Cowboys release RB Williams, to give SFA rookie a look

After leading the Cowboys in sacks last season, defensive end Jeremy Mincey quietly tried to work out a contract extension in the off-season.

Mincey participated in the off-season program, organized team activities and minicamp. But after getting nowhere on a new deal, he did not take the team charter to California on Tuesday and will likely missing the start of training camp.

Mincey, 31, will not report to camp because he is unhappy with his contract, a source said. He could be fined as much as $30,000 a day, beginning today. He is slated to earn $1.5 million this year, the last year of a two-year, $3 million deal he signed as a free agent last spring.

Mincey started all 16 games for the Cowboys, leading them with six sacks. He also recorded another two sacks in the playoffs.

The Cowboys signed free agent Greg Hardy and drafted rookie Randy Gregory in the second round potentially replace Mincey as a weakside rusher. But his absence puts them in a conundrum because Hardy will miss the first four games because of an NFL suspension and there are questions as to whether Gregory is big enough to hold up against the run.

Williams released

Ryan Williams is no longer an option to join a likely running back committee the Dallas Cowboys will use this season.

The Cowboys released Williams on Tuesday. He spent all of last season on the practice squad, underwent two arthroscopic knee operations this off-season, including one after minicamp in June.

Williams had an impressive preseason for the Cowboys last year, but was never promoted to the 53-man roster.

Still, they liked him enough to keep him on the practice squad and hand him a two-year deal with a $240,000 signing bonus earlier this off-season.

Williams was expected to join the running back competition, along with Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar.

The Cowboys now seem content with Randle, McFadden and Dunbar, and will also give newly signed Stephen F. Austin rookie Gus Johnson a look.

The Cowboys are not actively pursuing free-agent backs for the time being, according to a source.

Ray Rice, a three-time Pro Bowl back, is not of interest because the source said the team doesn’t want to take on another player with a domestic violence issue after signing Greg Hardy during the off-season.

Another three-time Pro Bowler who has been linked to the Cowboys — Chris Johnson — also doesn’t seem to be the right fit. The Cowboys are interested in a more physical runner than Johnson, according to a source.

But, the source said, “[You] never know what will happen in a couple weeks.”

Gus Johnson, who was brought in by the Cowboys last month for a three-day tryout, was signed by the team Thursday and the contract was made official once he passed a physical Monday at Valley Ranch.

Johnson originally was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent after the draft before being released.

He finished his SFA career with 3,907 yards and 51 touchdowns on 631 carries. He was the 2014 Southland Conference player of the year, setting a school record with 23 touchdowns.

Johnson, a Gilmer native, had 21 100-yard rushing games and six 200-yard performances, both of which are tops all-time in SFA history.

The Cowboys also released linebacker Cameron Lawrence, a special teams contributor the past two seasons, and offensive tackle Ryan Miller.

Along with Johnson, they signed linebacker Justin Anderson and center Ronald Patrick.

Jones has hip surgery

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones underwent left hip replacement surgery July 21, and is recovering better than expected.

The 72-year-old Jones will be at the team’s annual state of the union address Wednesday to kick off training camp.

Asked jokingly if Jones would start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Jason Garrett replied, smirking: “Don’t know. Sounds like he’s making good progress.”

Jones has been bothered by his hip for a while, and opted to have the surgery just before training camp started.

Since the surgery went so well, Jones is considering have his right hip replaced before the start of the regular season.

This marks the 27th season at the Cowboys helm for Jones.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 9:15 PM with the headline "Cowboys release RB Williams, to give SFA rookie a look."