Irving, TX (Sportsbooks) - Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback and veteran linebacker Matt Stewart were among 22 players released as part of the
Dallas Cowboys' "cut-down day" maneuvers on Saturday.
Stanback, a college quarterback at Washington who was selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, was unable to make enough of an impression on offense or the return game in two seasons with Dallas. Stanback appeared in eight games last season, catching two passes and returning 10 kickoffs for 218 yards.
Stewart, meanwhile, was trying to make the team after spending two years out off the field. The linebacker, who was a starter with both the Falcons (2001-04) and Browns (2005-06) earlier in his career, was bidding to return to the NFL for the first time since injuring his shoulder as a member of the Browns prior to the 2007 season.
In addition to those players, the following were also released: guard Travis Bright, safety Courtney Brown, quarterback Rudy Carpenter, tight end Scott Chandler, fullback Julius Crosslin, defensive end Marcus Dixon, linebacker Tearrius George, guard Ryan Gibbons, cornerback Jeremy Haynes, wide receiver Jesse Holley, wide receiver Mike Jefferson, wide receiver Manuel Johnson, running back Keon Lattimore, cornerback Mike Mickens, wide receiver Willie Reid, defensive end Derreck Robinson, fullback Asaph Schwapp, defensive tackle Jonas Seawright, safety DeAngelo Smith, and cornerback DeAngelo Willingham.
Of those players, notables include Brown, who appeared in eight games as a Cowboy last year, and Smith (5th Round, Cincinnati), Mickens (7th Round, Cincinnati) and Johnson (7th Round, Oklahoma), all of whom were 2009 draft picks.
In another move, the team placed sixth-round rookie linebacker Stephen Hodge on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury.
The Cowboys will begin their 2009 slate on Sept. 13, when they travel to meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
