The Cowboys have cut 23-year old safety/return man Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.  Owusu-Ansah played in 3 games for the Cowboys this year and he had 3 tackles.  He also returned 6 punts for 47 yards (7.8 avg) and 3 kickoffs for 56 yards (18.7 avg) this year for the Cowboys.  He played in 10 games in two years with the Cowboys and he has 3 tackles.  Owusu-Ansah also returned 6 punts for 47 yards (7.8 avg) and 28 kickoffs for 599 yards (21.4 avg) with the Cowboys.  This isn’t much of a loss for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys have waived 22-year old punter Chris Jones.  Jones played in 1 game for the Cowboys and he punted the ball 4 times for 172 yards (43.0 avg).  He pinned the opposing team inside their own 20-yard line twice and he didn’t have any touchbacks.  Jones’ release likely means that 32-year old Mat McBriar is ready to return to action.  McBriar has played in 8 games for the Cowboys so far this year and he has punted the ball 26 times for 1,263 yards (48.6 avg).  He also has 3 touchbacks (11.5%) and he has placed the ball inside the opposing 20-yard line 9 times (34.6%) so far this year.  Jones did a good job for the Cowboys, but McBriar will improve the punting.

The Cowboys have waived 26-year old RB Tashard Choice.  Choice played in 6 games for the Cowboys this year and he carried the ball 28 times for 75 yards (2.7 ypc).  He also caught 11 passes for 71 yards (6.5 avg) this year for the Cowboys.  Choice played in 54 games in his four years with the Cowboys and he carried the ball 250 times for 1,139 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) with 8 TD grabs.  He also caught 64 passes for 497 yards (7.8 avg) for the Cowboys.  The emergence of DeMarco Murray and Phillip Tanner lead to Choice’s release.  Some team is definitely going to claim him off waivers and give him more of  a chance to play than the Cowboys did.

UPDATE:  (11/1/2011) – Tashard Choice has been claimed off waivers by the rival Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys have waived 24-year old rookie WR Dwayne Harris.  Harris played in five games for the Cowboys but he didn’t catch any passes.  Harris did return 11 punts for 73 yards (6.6 avg) and 3 kickoffs for 74 yards (24.7 avg) for the Cowboys.  He had a very solid pre-season for the Cowboys, but he hasn’t produced for them in the real games.  This is no big loss for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys have released CB/PR/KR Bryan McCann.  McCann played in both of the Cowboys’ games this year and he didn’t have any tackles while defending 1 pass.  He also returned 2 punts for 13 yards and 1 kickoff for 26 yards for the Cowboys this season.  McCann played in 11 games in two years with the Cowboys and he had 15 tackles, 1 interception (he returned it 101 yards for a TD), defensed 1 pass and he had 1 tackle for a loss.  McCann also returned 10 punts for 178 yards (17.8 avg) with 1 TD return and he returned 24 kickoffs for 533 yards (22.2 avg) for the Cowboys.  McCann probably won’t be out of work too long.  The Cowboys needed McCann’s roster spot in order to re-sign WR Laurent Robinson.

The Cowboys have released 31-year old OG Montrae Holland.  Holland played in 14 games (2 starts) for the Cowboys last year.  He has now played in 89 games (50 starts) in his first 8 years in the NFL.  The Cowboys shouldn’t miss Holland too much as they have reloaded along the offensive line for 2011.

The Cowboys have released 29-year old DE Igor Olshansky.  Olshansky played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last year and he had 38 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 passes defensed.  He played in 32 games in his two years with the Cowboys and he had 78 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss and 2 passes defensed.  Olshansky didn’t show enough to new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and that’s why he’s looking for a job now.

The Cowboys have released 24-year old fullback Chris Gronkowski.  Gronkowski played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Cowboys as a rookie last year and he carried the ball 5 times for 17 yards (3.4 ypc).  He also caught 7 passes for 35 yards (5.0 avg) with a TD grab and he also returned 2 kickoffs for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  The Cowboys just didn’t think Gronkowski showed enough in the preseason and training camp to keep his roster spot for 2011.

The Cowboys have released 32-year old center Andre Gurode.  Gurode played in 16 games (all starts) for the Cowboys last year.  He played in 138 games (122 starts) in his 9 years with the Cowboys.  Gurode made it to five Pro Bowls as a member of the Cowboys, so he’s not going to be easily replaced.  The essentially cut him because he wouldn’t restructure his contract.  Only time will tell if this was a mistake or not.

The Cowboys have re-signed 27-year old OT Doug Free to a 4-year, $32 million dollar deal.  The price was driven up big time by the Tampa Bay Bucs, who were also after him.  Free played in 16 games (all starts) for the Cowboys last year.  He has played in 33 games (23 starts) in his first four years with the Cowboys.  The Cowboys are glad to have Free back to block the blind side of QB Tony Romo.  The Cowboys have also released 24-year old OT Robert Brewer who played in 1 game (he didn’t start) as a rookie last year.