DC.com: Eatman: Cutting Glenn Came Down To Young WRs

OXNARD, Calif. - For months, we thought this was about a knee. We thought this was about $1.74 million, or a $500,000 injury settlement. For a while, it seemed like it was about pride or stubbornness, about a desire to play and a need for a speed receiver.

In the end, this entire Terry Glenn saga didn't seem to be about Terry Glenn at all. And, it certainly doesn't seem like he had any decision in the matter either.

No, the Cowboys released Glenn here Friday with owner Jerry Jones announcing the decision in the middle of the first training camp practice at the Oxnard River Ridge Sports Complex. And this decision, which Jones said he made just two hours earlier, didn't come down to any of the aforementioned factors.

This was about the Cowboys' young receivers. This was about seeing what Patrick Crayton can really do when he's not looking over his shoulder. This is about Sam Hurd's opportunity to be a true third receiver, that is unless Miles Austin can beat him out.

And, it's about Isaiah Stanback getting every chance to show what he can do. This is about seeing if Mike Jefferson or even Danny Amendola, who easily produced the play of the camp so far with a diving grab in 7-on-7 drills, has what it takes to earn a roster spot.

That's what the Cowboys want to see. That's what the Cowboys want to hope.

And at the end of the day, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys decided that's what they wanted to risk, more than the fact of Glenn and his right knee trying to hold up through training camp, the preseason and, of course, the regular season.

This isn't to say the Cowboys are calling Glenn a "progress-stopper," even though it almost has that kind of feel. That was evident when Jones said the Cowboys might even consider bringing Glenn back, possibly down the road in a few weeks.

So basically, this is a chance to see all of the young receivers without Terry Glenn in the mix at all. He's gone, cut, released, waived. Any way you put it, the Cowboys are moving on without Glenn.

Now, whether or not Jones wants to keep Glenn at "an arms length," it's apparent the Cowboys are moving on without him. That way, there is no "if Glenn comes back" contingencies to worry about.

He's gone. And the Cowboys can just move on.

And that seems to be the Cowboys' take, although not exactly my own.

Personally, I don't really like the way this thing turned out at all. Through the grapevine, it sounded as if Glenn wasn't in the best shape in the world. Hmm, I wonder if that means he was running like a 4.4 or something.

Please, Terry Glenn not in shape? Doesn't sound like a great excuse to me.

All I know is that he has been seen at the Cowboys' facility playing racquetball on a few occasions. If you've ever played that sport, you know how demanding it is physically. And to cut back and forth on that surgically-repaired knee is rather impressive.

So, it's surprising to me if this came down to his conditioning. Jerry Jones even said the Cowboys probably would hold him out some here in training camp and possibly the preseason.

Now, all along we thought this was about money. And let's not kid ourselves, money is always involved in some way, and this is no different. But, it's not the only factor in this case.

Sure, the Cowboys wanted to protect themselves from paying Glenn's $1.74 million base salary if he were to suffer another injury. That's why they approached the wide receiver with a $500,000 injury settlement back in the summer.

And that's really where this whole thing changed.

After the draft, Jones seemed so enthusiastic about Glenn's chances to return, he used that as the top reason the Cowboys didn't draft a wide receiver at all. He said Glenn was moving well in the workouts at Valley Ranch, keeping most of the team and staff encouraged about his chances to play.

But, something changed.

Jones or even head coach Wade Phillips didn't actually specify what it was. Maybe it happened on Glenn's end as well, but something made Jones put his business cap on and work up the $500,000 injury settlement.

Glenn initially balked and said he wouldn't sign it. Who knows, maybe he stopped working out as much, too. But at the end of the day, Glenn had even agreed to sign it and return to the team. Glenn was ready. Unfortunately for him, it was probably too late.

The Cowboys are ready to move on. They're ready to see just what these younger guys can do and they really don't seem interested in having Glenn hanging over anyone's head.

Now, Jones and Phillips might keep Glenn in the back of their mind, that is unless the veteran doesn't sign on with another team. And yes, it's hard not to think someone from Miami will, or probably already has called to see just how that right knee is holding up.

A colleague of mine who writes for another newspaper said back in April that Glenn's next catch will occur with the Dolphins. Thought he was crazy. Guess not.

Who knows, maybe Glenn's next reception will be with the Cowboys, if indeed they really are serious about leaving the door open. And maybe Glenn won't have any more catches. Just maybe he'll see that he truly has done enough in his career and decide to hang it up.

But unlike the one that just ended his tenure with the Cowboys, that is a decision that Glenn actually does get to make.
"I don't know anything about the football stuff..." -- Jerry Jones to FWST, 5/28/08