IRVING, Texas (AP) — Rookie receiver Danny Coale was released Friday by the Dallas Cowboys, who had to cut 22 players to get to the NFL-mandated roster of 53.
Even with the departure of Coale, the fifth-round pick, five of the Cowboys’ seven draft picks from April made the roster. Linebacker Caleb McSurdy was waived injured earlier this week because of an Achilles tendon injury.
Former University of Hawaii and Kamehameha-Hawaii standout Mana Silva, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound safety, made the final cut. The ex-Big Island prep standout played well in limited time during the preseason to earn a spot on the NFL squad.
The Cowboys also Friday added experienced depth in their interior line when they acquired guard-center Ryan Cook, a seven-year veteran, from Miami for a seventh-round draft pick next April. Guard Daniel Loper was waived/injured.
Stephen McGee, the fourth-year quarterback from Texas A&M, was on the roster. There are been questions about whether the Cowboys would stick with only two quarterbacks on the final roster after signing Kyle Orton in the offseason to be Tony Romo’s main backup. Quarterback Rudy Carpenter was cut.
Among the undrafted rookies cut were running backs Lance Dunbar and Jamize Olawale, both from North Texas. Dunbar ran for 105 yards on 15 carries with a 58-yard touchdown in the preseason finale.
Offensive lineman Ronald Leary was also cut. Though Leary had chronic knee problems at Memphis and wasn’t drafted, he was guaranteed $214,000 in base salary. Owner Jerry Jones indicated Leary might be able to contribute immediately when he was signed after the draft.
After breaking his foot during the rookie minicamp in early May, Coale dealt with a sore quadriceps during camp and played in only two preseason games.
Coale started 54 of his 55 games at Virginia Tech, and had 165 catches for 2,658 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot, 190-pound receiver returned punts and even punted at the end of college career, averaging 43.5 yards on 13 kicks.
Several of the cut players will be added to the Cowboys’ eight-man practice squad. That group can’t be signed until Saturday, the same day the team begins full preparations for their season opener Wednesday night at the New York Giants.
The other players cut were fullback Shaun Chapas; linebackers Baraka Atkins, Adrian Hamilton and Orie Lemon, who returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown in the preseason finale; offensive linemen Jeff Adams, Harland Gunn, Daniel Loper and Pat McQuistan; defensive backs Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Lionel Smith, Eddie Whitley and Teddy Williams; defensive tackles Ben Bass, Robert Callaway and Clifton Geathers; tight end Andrew Szczerba; and receivers Tim Benford and Saalim Hakim.
