The Dallas Cowboysofficially declined to pick up the fifth-year option on cornerback Morris Claiborne's contract.
Back in January owner Jerry Jones said he was open to exercising the fifth year of the deal, which would have paid the No. 6 overall pick in 2012 in the neighborhood of $11 million in 2016.
After selecting corner Byron Jones in the first-round of this year's draft, however, the Cowboys decided to allow Claiborne to enter the final year of his contract.
Last year was disastrous for Claiborne. Poor play got him benched. Then the corner pouted about the demotion, skipping practice and leaving the facility. Just days later he tore his patellar tendon and was out for the season.
Claiborne's first three seasons have been a huge disappointment for the organization, which dealt two draft picks to acquire the corner. Claiborne has missed 21 of a possible 50 games and has just three interceptions.
Claiborne currently sits behind Orlando Scandrick, Brandon Carr and Byron Jones on the depth chart. If he's not healthy -- or he reverts to being disgruntled -- Clairborne won't earn his way back into the rotation, making him an expendable commodity.
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