When the Cowboys parted ways with safety Brodney Pool on Monday, it seemed to serve multiple purposes.The move sent a message to the players that nobody's slot should be taken for granted. However first and foremost, the move was to allow the Cowboys younger players at the position more repetitions. At the midday presser, Garrett had the following to say:
We wanted to bring Brodney in here and give him a chance; both Rob and Jerome had been with him in the past. We just wanted to see where he was in his career... We tried to structure the contract in such a way that we weren't guaranteeing him anything... we wanted to give him a chance to play, as we went forward through the offseason and as through the early part of camp...we just didn't think it was a good fit for our team right now. We feel good about how the young guys have stepped up into those roles, we like the competition we have there and we'll just see how that goes once we start playing in the preseason games.
Garrett repeated the statement that they didn't think it was a good fit for the team right now; which could be read as an indication that Pool could return to the team should the young guys not take advantage of the opportunity presented them. That will all be worked out during the preseason games. One should remember that Garrett and the staff were displeased with how Montrae Holland reported to 2011 training camp but was resigned when the team needed him in the early part of the season. That isn't the question with Pool; nor is scouring the waiver wire once cuts start to be made by other teams.
Barry Church, who has turned in a quality offseason and camp so far, will get the first crack at the starting job. He will eventually be joined by rookie Matt Johnson; currently sidelined with a slight hamstring injury after missing most of the OTAs due to school responsibilities.
They'll be first up, but one shouldn't automatically assume that this is the final word on the safety position opposite Gerald Sensabaugh.