The Cowboys have cut linebacker Jasper Brinkley, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will make room for newly-acquired offensive tackle Jordan Mills. Brinkley’s deal included $2MM cash, so Dallas will be on the hook for some considerable cash.
Brinkley, 30, signed a two-year deal with the Cowboys this summer and he said that he was partially motivated by the chance to reunite with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
“I played in Minnesota for five years and I remember when he was in Chicago, just thinking about those defenses and the guys with the takeaways, a lot of takeaways,” Brinkley said in July.“You think about Charles Tillman, you think about Brian Urlacher, you think about Lance Briggs, you think about Tim Jennings, all those guys.”
Brinkley started 11 games for Minnesota last season, compiling 54 tackles and one sack. Prior to that, the veteran played for Arizona in 2013 before returning to the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft. As a two-down linebacker Brinkley was expected to allow the Cowboys to shift Sean Lee from inside linebacker to weak-side linebacker. Instead, he’ll be looking for work elsewhere.