Sunday, September 02, 2007

Cowboys sign 2 players to 53 roster, and several to pratice squad

Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
September 2, 2007 4:55 PM

IRVING, Texas - While the Cowboys made the majority of their roster moves on Saturday by cutting 21 players, including cornerback Aaron Glenn, and putting veteran kicker Martin Gramatica on injured reserve, in no way did it signal an end to the changes.

The Cowboys came back Sunday and claimed two players off waivers from other teams, prompting two more roster cuts.

The club claimed outside linebacker Justin Rogers, a rookie free agent from SMU who spent training camp with the Patriots, and defensive back Evan Oglesby, a two-year veteran who was recently cut by the Baltimore Ravens.

To make room on the 53-man roster, the Cowboys released a pair of defensive backs - safety Abram Elam and rookie cornerback Alan Ball. The club had kept all eight draft picks on the roster before cutting Ball, a seventh-round pick from Illinois.

The Cowboys also formed most of their practice squad on Sunday, signing seven players who have been with the team for the entire training camp and preseason.

The club signed running back Alonzo Coleman, tight end Rodney Hannah, quarterback Richard Bartel, wide receiver Mike Jefferson, linebacker Khari Long, cornerback Quincy Butler and defensive end Marcus Smith. The Cowboys hope to add Ball to the final spot on the practice squad by Monday if he clears waivers.

But missing from the practice squad is a pair of players who were picked up by other teams. Rookie quarterback Matt Moore was claimed off waivers by the Panthers and defensive tackle Remi Ayodele was signed by the Falcons. Also, Arizona signed wide receiver Jerheme Urban, though he was not eligible for the practice squad. Urban joins Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who spent the last three years with the Cowboys, including last season as the team's passing game coordinator.

On Saturday, the Cowboys removed 22 players from the roster, including veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn and kicker Martin Gramatica, who was placed on injured reserve and will likely get an injury settlement for his strained hamstring this week.

The Cowboys also cut outside linebacker Junior Glymph, who had seen extensive playing time in Greg Ellis' absence because of his heel injury. However, the Cowboys obviously see more upside in Rogers, who recorded 11 tackles and two sacks in four preseason games with the Patriots.

Oglesby, who has played both cornerback and safety in his career, should be able to help at both positions, as well as special teams. As an undrafted rookie from North Alabama in 2005, he was signed to the Bills' practice squad before signing with Baltimore later that season. Oglesby had been with the Ravens ever since, playing in all 16 games last year and recording 16 tackles on defense and two pass deflections. In the 2007 preseason with the Ravens, Oglesby had 10 tackles and pass breakup.

Here's a look at this weekend's roster moves:

Sunday's Transactions:

Released:
CB Alan Ball
S Abram Elam

Claimed off Waivers:
LB Justin Rogers (New England)
CB Evan Oglesby (Baltimore)

Signed to Practice Squad:
WR Mike Jefferson
QB Richard Bartel
CB Quincy Butler
DE Marcus Smith
TE Rodney Hannah
RB Alonzo Coleman
LB Khari Long

(Note: WR Jerheme Urban (Ari), DT Remi Ayodele (Atl) and QB Matt Moore (Car) were all claimed off waivers by other teams to the active roster.)

Saturday's Transactions:

Injured Reserve:
K Martin Gramatica

Released:
CB Aaron Glenn
LB John Saldi
QB Matt Moore
WR Jerheme Urban
DT Remi Ayodele
WR Mike Jefferson
QB Richard Bartel
CB Quincy Butler
DE Marcus Smith
TE Rodney Hannah
RB Alonzo Coleman
LB Khari Long
OL Matt Tarullo
G Trey Darilek
LB Junior Glymph
WR Damarius Bilbo
CB Joey Thomas
FB Lousaka Polite
LB Blair Phillips
TE Adam Bergen
RB Arliss Beach


Three players released by the Dallas Cowboys yesterday were claimed by other NFL teams to their active roster.
Remi Ayodele - Atlanta Falcons
Matt Moore - Carolina Panthers
Jerheme Urban - Arizona Cardinals