IRVING, Texas – The Anthony Hargrove experiment is already over.
The Cowboys decided to release the veteran defensive end on Thursday after nearly five weeks with the team. Hargrove was signed on May 16 as an attempt to get an experienced player to add depth at defensive end.
But after two handfuls of OTA and minicamp practices, it became clear to the Cowboys that Hargrove wasn't the same player that made him a quality pass-rusher for the Saints a few years back.
Hargrove did not play a snap last year as he found himself on the wrong side of the NFL's bounty-gate scandal. With the fear of him serving a suspension, no team signed Hargrove last year.
In his brief time with the Cowboys, Hargrove seemed more than enthused about reviving his career and putting the rough season of 2012 behind him. While that still can happen, it won't occur in Dallas.
Hargrove played with four other teams before signing with the Cowboys, most notably in New Orleans, where he played 30 games in two seasons, including the 2009 Super Bowl winning year. [embedded_ad] That season, Hargrove recorded five sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Hargrove also played for the Seahawks, Bills and Rams, who drafted him in the third round in 2004.
Hargrove's release might also suggest the Cowboys have high hopes for second-year defensive end Kyle Wilber, who should enter camp as the primary backup to starters DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Wilber was an outside linebacker in the 3-4 last year and was initially listed as a backer in the 4-3 scheme, but has since moved to end.
