Dallas

Newy: The Cowboys Finally Cut Tight End Rico Gathers

Rico Gathers was a polarizing player during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.

No need to have any more Rico debates, because the Cowboys woke up and cut the former Baylor basketball player turned NFL tight end.

The Cowboys needed to get rid of Gathers because he never seemed to have a passion for football. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett always talks about guys on his team who "love ball" and he never said that about Gathers.

Gathers is still facing a one-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. He was arrested on a marijuana possession charge last year. He made a rap record last summer. He had a lot issues.

Did I mention Gathers had a grand total of three catches for 46 yards in his three years with Dallas?

It was time to move on. Just like it was time for the Cowboys to move on from the troubled David Irving this offseason.

At 25 years old, Gathers missed his window to show he could be a player who could become a contributor. With Jason Witten back after a year of retirement, Gathers was set to lose his spot on the roster. Dallas has big plans for Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz at the tight end.

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Dallas may have done Gathers, a sixth-round draft pick in 2016, a favor by releasing him before most teams will play their first preseason game. He might be able to find a new club and continue his career.

Hall of Fame owner Jerry Jones was always a Rico Gathers fan, but the club finally mad the right move.

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