Keylon Kincade
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:23 amIRVING, Texas - To make room for nearly 30 rookies the Cowboys are bringing in for this weekend's rookie mini-camp at Valley Ranch, the club Cowboys trimmed two spots off their roster on Thursday, including 12-year veteran Richie Anderson, who underwent neck surgery last week in New York.
The Cowboys also cut wide receiver Randal Williams, who was phased out of the offensive plans last year.
Williams, one of the fastest players on the team, once being clocked with a 4.04 time in the 40-yard dash, caught only one pass last year, his only catch of his four-year career.
Mostly a special teams player, Williams did get an opportunity to start two games at receiver last year, when Terry Glenn and Quincy Morgan went down with injuries. But Williams was a non-factor in those games (Detroit and Cincinnati), and went back to the inactive list for the rest of the season.
As for Anderson, his release comes as no surprise. The Cowboys actually placed him on released/failed physical since he has yet to start what would be a three-to-five-month rehab even if he wanted to play this season.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones had already said on Wednesday Anderson would not return to the team this year, and issued an emphatic "no" when asked if the veteran fullback would join the Cowboys coaching staff, something that had been speculated the last two months.
"He's not going to be playing with the Cowboys," Jones said. " No, I don't . . . know what he's going to be doing, what his plans are there and how it might relate to us. But right now he's of course rehabbing and I don't see that playing is in the future."
The Cowboys obviously knew the veteran running back would not return this upcoming season heading into the draft, which is why they spent a fourth-round pick on running back Marion Barber III, knowing they would not have Anderson to fall back on as not only a third-down back, but more importantly, as a backup to starter Julius Jones. The Cowboys see Barber as a legitimate backup to Jones, someone who would be able to step in if Julius Jones should suffer an injury.
That now leaves the Cowboys with Julius Jones, Barber, ReShard Lee, Erik Bickerstaff and Keylon Kincade at running back, and just Darian Barnes and Lousaka Polite at fullback. The Cowboys. Added to that group on Thursday were two undrafted rookies, San Jose State running back Tyson Thompson of Irving, Texas, and Baylor fullback Jonathon Evans.
Anderson's role with the Cowboys was greatly reduced last year. He went from leading the team in receptions in 2003 (69) to catching just 26 passes in 2004. And he went from tying for the touchdown lead in 2003 (five) to scoring just one running touchdown in 2005. Anderson in two years with the Cowboys carried the ball 127 times for 552 yards.
Since Williams played only two games in the middle of last season, his departure shouldn't affect much at the receiver position. With Keyshawn Johnson, Glenn and Morgan all expected to recover from their injuries last year, the Cowboys are hoping Terrance Copper and Patrick Crayton will continue to make progress from their rookie seasons a year ago. The Cowboys also re-signed Zuriel Smith in the off-season, after he was out of football last season. And keep an eye on Tom Crowder, who spent last year on the practice squad, mostly as a safety. But the Cowboys moved him to wide receiver at the end of last season. If he can continue to catch the ball consistently, Crowder could compete for a spot, based on his ability to play special teams and his track-like speed.
The Cowboys also cut wide receiver Randal Williams, who was phased out of the offensive plans last year.
Williams, one of the fastest players on the team, once being clocked with a 4.04 time in the 40-yard dash, caught only one pass last year, his only catch of his four-year career.
Mostly a special teams player, Williams did get an opportunity to start two games at receiver last year, when Terry Glenn and Quincy Morgan went down with injuries. But Williams was a non-factor in those games (Detroit and Cincinnati), and went back to the inactive list for the rest of the season.
As for Anderson, his release comes as no surprise. The Cowboys actually placed him on released/failed physical since he has yet to start what would be a three-to-five-month rehab even if he wanted to play this season.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones had already said on Wednesday Anderson would not return to the team this year, and issued an emphatic "no" when asked if the veteran fullback would join the Cowboys coaching staff, something that had been speculated the last two months.
"He's not going to be playing with the Cowboys," Jones said. " No, I don't . . . know what he's going to be doing, what his plans are there and how it might relate to us. But right now he's of course rehabbing and I don't see that playing is in the future."
The Cowboys obviously knew the veteran running back would not return this upcoming season heading into the draft, which is why they spent a fourth-round pick on running back Marion Barber III, knowing they would not have Anderson to fall back on as not only a third-down back, but more importantly, as a backup to starter Julius Jones. The Cowboys see Barber as a legitimate backup to Jones, someone who would be able to step in if Julius Jones should suffer an injury.
That now leaves the Cowboys with Julius Jones, Barber, ReShard Lee, Erik Bickerstaff and Keylon Kincade at running back, and just Darian Barnes and Lousaka Polite at fullback. The Cowboys. Added to that group on Thursday were two undrafted rookies, San Jose State running back Tyson Thompson of Irving, Texas, and Baylor fullback Jonathon Evans.
Anderson's role with the Cowboys was greatly reduced last year. He went from leading the team in receptions in 2003 (69) to catching just 26 passes in 2004. And he went from tying for the touchdown lead in 2003 (five) to scoring just one running touchdown in 2005. Anderson in two years with the Cowboys carried the ball 127 times for 552 yards.
Since Williams played only two games in the middle of last season, his departure shouldn't affect much at the receiver position. With Keyshawn Johnson, Glenn and Morgan all expected to recover from their injuries last year, the Cowboys are hoping Terrance Copper and Patrick Crayton will continue to make progress from their rookie seasons a year ago. The Cowboys also re-signed Zuriel Smith in the off-season, after he was out of football last season. And keep an eye on Tom Crowder, who spent last year on the practice squad, mostly as a safety. But the Cowboys moved him to wide receiver at the end of last season. If he can continue to catch the ball consistently, Crowder could compete for a spot, based on his ability to play special teams and his track-like speed.