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Dallas Cowboys: Orlando Scandrick has requested his release

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Orlando Scandrick #32 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after breaking up the pass intended for DeSean Jackson #11 of the Washington Redskins during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 27, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Orlando Scandrick #32 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after breaking up the pass intended for DeSean Jackson #11 of the Washington Redskins during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 27, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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With NFL free agency kicking off this week, veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick has requested his release from the Dallas Cowboys.

It appears as if the Dallas Cowboys will finally finished the remodeling job they started last offseason, which was to completely revamp their defensive secondary. That coming on Monday due to the request by Orlando Scandrick to be released by the Cowboys just prior to the start of NFL free agency this week, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.

The Cowboys veteran cornerback was rumored to be on the trading block last offseason. But Dallas opted to keep Scandrick on the roster after allowing other veterans of their secondary, players like safety Barry Church and fellow cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, to leave via free agency.

Dallas then proceeded to find their replacements in last year’s draft, using four of their seven defensive draft picks on their secondary. Those picks being Colorado defensive back Chidobe Awuzie in the second round, Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis in the third, and both Louisiana Tech safety Xavier Woods and Florida State corner Marquez White in the sixth round.

Scandrick was named a team captain for the first time in his career as Dallas clearly hoped the veteran defensive back would become a leader for this young group of defenders.

By the end of the season, both Awuzie and Lewis were the Cowboys’ starting cornerbacks, Woods was a key backup and special teams player while White was on the practice squad. Scandrick finished the year on the bench, missing the final three games of last season after suffering a transverse process fracture in his back.

The now 31-year old defender recorded 38 total tackles and three pass defends in 11 games last season. Orlando failed to record a single interception for only the second time in his 10-year career.

This offseason, Scandrick’s time in Dallas seemed to be over as rumors that the Cowboys were considering a move that would shift former first round selection Byron Jones from safety back to corner. That would seemingly leave Scandrick as the odd man out in a secondary that has experienced a dramatic youth revolution.

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With Orlando Scandrick’s request for release on Monday, it likely marks the end of the veteran’s tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. Although the team has yet to grant his request, it’s all but certain Scandrick has played his last game with the Star on his helmet.

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