The Dallas Cowboys have continued to overhaul their roster this offseason under Jerry Jones and longtime safety Gerald Sensabaugh was the latest casualty, as he was released from the team on Monday.
According to ESPNDallas.com, Sensabaugh confirmed the move on Twitter, writing "Been informed I'm being released for cap purposes... had a great run #CowboysNation I appreciate the organization and my teammates."
The Cowboys needed to create more space in the salary cap to deal with Anthony Spencer, who was just franchise tagged, as well as quarterback Tony Romo, who is due a large contract extension if the two sides can work out a deal. The cut of Sensabaugh saves the team $1.4 million in salary-cap space as his $3 million base salary was guaranteed for next season.
Sensabaugh previously played for the Jaguars before coming to the Cowboys and he has played on three straight one-year deals before putting his name to a five-year extension at the end of the 2011 season that saw the team lose to the Giants in Week 17. Sensabaugh was a consistent presence in the secondary and started every game but two during his run with the Cowboys, making eight interceptions, although he had zero last season.
Sensabaugh was a big part of the team's revamped secondary and he made 62 tackles and forced a fumble while the Cowboys went 8-8 and finished out of the playoffs for another season. The Cowboys are in a tough spot at the safety position now and there is a good chance the team will use draft picks in that area.
The team's other players, including Barry Church, have all been injured or untested. Church had a torn Achilles and after Sensabaugh was released, the Cowboys do not have a player on the team who has started at the position in the secondary. Sensabaugh played in all 16 games in five of his seven seasons and he missed only one game over the past three years for Dallas.
The Cowboys have a number of holes to fill on defense and the team will be looking to adjust to a new scheme with coordinator Monte Kiffin, who was hired to replace Rob Ryan. Last season the defense ranked 19th in passing yards per game and Jones has been adamant about improving the unit.
"We upgraded safety when we brought in Kiffin relative to what we're going to need the safety to do," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said at the NFL scouting combine.
The team still needs to figure out an extension with quarterback Tony Romo before next season is over, as his contract calls for a heap of dead money to hit the salary cap. The team also needs to figure out how to fill the position of safety and the best may could be on the free agent market, as Charles Woodson and Ed Reed may both be available.
Woodson could be a perfect fit for the Cowboys, as he had a number of productive years in Green Bay after switching from cornerback to safety. The NFL draft has a number of prospects that could be a fit for Dallas and the team could also go after San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson if the team does not re-sign him.