Ken Hamlin and Flozell Adams Released by the Cowboys

While he’s never been an INT machine, he’s played centerfield more adeptly than any predecessor since Woodson.

But maybe they think Mike Hamlin could step up?

As much as fans like to be negative about Hamlin, I don’t see Ball or a rookie coming in and doing any better.
If this is true, hope they have some kind of better plan in mind.

Watchout Flo you maybe next.

less for his lack of performance and more for his $ implications. He was above average, but being paid as exceptional.

There goes the quiet off-season we were having….

I dont know why, but I’m a little shocked by this, yet very very interested in how they’ll replace him.

O-linemen and Safey in this draft. Double down on that bet now, odds just got a lot better.

Jerry saw an opportunity to shed obscene amounts of salary without losing much talent and went for it.

Just do not understand the timing. We all figured they would attempt to upgrade here but there are no safety nets for these 2 spots now.

it’s one of the things that make him stand out from other owners who have historically sought the limelight. But, I don’t like being pigeon-holed into drafting specific positions in the draft. I thought this should have waited until after the draft.

Teams that sign either of them now, before the draft, are less likely to go all out to pick a premium player at that position in the draft.

I might actually be excited for the upcoming season now. Jerry getting some balls. Best news in a while.

It will be hard to just plug rookies into those positions if we end up spending our picks on a S and OT

I begin to understand and see the light….

Props to Mr. Jones for being loyal. I have nothing against Hamlon or Flo and wish them the best….in the AFC.

had leaked out yesterday maybe the reason Jerry went ahead and pulled the trigger today.

I like it, though. This is actually similar to what the Eagles do, letting high priced veterans go right before they really, really decline. I think it’s smart.

In a way Flo was a fixture in dallas for so long it will be sad to see him go. But now we can get younger. Looks as if Jerry does have something up his sleeve.

Apparently he jumped early…

I just think it’s bad timing…he should have waited until after the draft. Superbowl or bust!

Just yesterday I was thinking how nice it was that the Cowboys get to address their depth concerns with 2 draft classes since they didn’t need the rookies that much last year. Now we’re back at square 1.

Even if you assume that Free can be an average LT right now and that Ball can be an average FS (which isn’t assured), there’s basically no depth now. You’re one OT injury away from Brewster starting, one secondary injury away from…MHamlin starting?

Unless they make some trades or signings, the pressure just got ratched up on this coming draft…where they will pick pretty low. They were at sea level, now they’re at coal-into-diamonds.

I’m not too surprised about Flo as much as I am about Hamlin, as I question the depth that this leaves on the team. While Ken wasn’t worth what we were giving him or what he was due this year, and while the secondary did just as good without him when he was injured this year, this still leaves a fairly big hole in the secondary. I mean, Sensa is good for the one spot, but I can’t imagine going into next year with one of Michael Hamlin or Alan Ball as the starter.

As for Flo, it was a matter of time. He got hurt last year and really was hit or miss all year. That, mixed with the fact that the dude has clearly lost a step, his penalties, and his injuries adding up, on top of the money he was owed this year, the time was right for this move. But still, wow.

If only because he’s a longtime Cowboy. Losing a LT that can play always hurts but this shows the confidence they have in Free. You don’t release a starting caliber LT unless you have an in-house solution that you trust. I mean, there’s no guarantee the draft yields that player so they already have a plan.

As for Hamlin, I liked him too, but he’s the type of player that is replaceable. I know Dallas had trouble finding a player to fill that role before Ken, but every year there are safety prospects that bubble up and have strong seasons and Hamlin was just a shade above good. Hopefully Ball comes through or we get that impact player in the draft. Safety is one of the positions (even if he has to make the secondary calls) that can come in and play right away. And if we get a very good prospect at the position in the draft I would be that’s the case.

welcome Jared Gaither

I wouldn’t mind getting Nate Allen with #27, and give our 2nd rounder to Baltimore for Gaither. But this is still fresh, so I don’t know if that’s a great idea.

One is at OT. We need a backup there who is not Brewster.

One is at FS. We have NO depth there right now— Alan Ball is our current starter, and no one’s behind him (I’m not counting Courtney Brown).

So I’d imagine Jerry will address one of these two holes in trade/FA (OJ Atogwe or Jared Gaither) and the other via our first or second pick. Just my initial take.

But does this again raise the hopes of getting Gaither? I still think that adding him to the team and getting them both locked up for the conceivable future may be the best way to insure a good offensive line for years to come.

Flozell had a great Cowboy career. We all hated all the penalties, but he provided excellent protection for our QBs. I put him 46th in my list of All-Time Cowboys. I would have kept him one more year to ease the transition to Free and give a rookie tiime to mature.

Glad we cut Hamlin at his pricetag, but wish we had a back-up plan. Now we have big holes in uor team going into this draft. I liked the idea of being able to draft BPA. Now I think we have to go FS and OL in some order of the first two rounds.

Sad to see both these guys leave…especially without compensation, but that was practically impossible.

Letting them both go now is better for their careers, but it really puts Dallas in a tough spot. This practically telegraphs Cowboys’ draft, and every team that was looking to make a move on an OT or a S now knows at least what pick to jump over. Additionally, BPA (albeit within a small set) becomes a very difficult strategy to follow.

Like others have said, this also creates issues with squad depth — without any trades, Free steps into the starting job, and now there are rookie(s) for backup. Safety does not fare better either. And if Alan Ball is thrust into the starter’s roles, where is our depth at corner?

Well, at least the off-season just got more interesting.

be looking at FS in the draft now. I’m not sold on Ball and I believe Mike Hamlin is more of a SS than that of a FS. We def need Oline depth now as well

Buehler can probably play both FS and LT in a pinch if need be!

Wonder what he thinks.
Probably just invited Free out for dinner and bought him a ’Vette or something.

the coaches or Jerry plans are. Jerry may pull a rabbit out of his ass and surprise everyone.

but these moves have got me on edge. The way I see it now we must enter training camp with at least one new safety, one new offensive tackle, and another interior lineman. Whether these moves are through FA or the draft doesn’t really matter but Dallas now clearly has room on their roster for a good amount of new faces. This to me puts the pressure squarely on our scouting department’s shoulders. I will admit though that I like the idea of Dallas finally not becoming a place where overpaid veterans can just simply sit there and continue to cash their checks despite declining play (RW notwithstanding).

Thanks for all of the support from all of my friends, family and fans!!!!!

You’re welcome, dude!

Ken Hamlin is finally gone! I NEVER wanted to sign this undisciplined bum from day one. And by day one I mean the day he left Seattle and became a free agent. He is by far the most undisciplined free safety I have ever seen. He was VERY lucky to have had great corner back play in front of him because Newman and Jenkins sure weren’t ever getting any help from him.
It honestly really doesn’t matter who starts in his place at this point. This move is the epitome of “addition by subtraction.”
Couldn’t cover and couldn’t tackle. After having a few passes fall into his lap in 2007, he has done nothing. Goodbye and THANK GOODNESS!

in free agency or in trade, they won’t be drafting just for depth. I thought they’d keep Flo for another year, and I know Hamlin had his issues, but the defense was not as good while he was out. They clearly missed their defensive QB.

The bad: Romo may have to watch his blind side more than he used to.

The good: Cowboys should be middle-of-the-pack in penalties instead of leading the league every damn year.

So it’s good to know that they have a plan of some sort to answer them. I mean, really, where can this team truly improve over last season? Safety and OL are the only areas in my opinion. Now we know that those positions are being addressed one way or another, for better or worse.