Cowboys’ Morris Claiborne leaves team after learning he was benched
By Hayden Kane
The Dallas Cowboys informed defensive back Morris Claiborne that he was going to be benched in favor of the recently reinstated Orlando Scandrick on Tuesday. In response, Claiborne threw a big temper tantrum, stormed out of Cowboys’ practice, and left the team entirely.
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Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPN Dallas reports what happened:
"Cornerback Morris Claiborne skipped the Dallas Cowboys’ walk-through practice and angrily left the club’s Valley Ranch training facility Tuesday after being informed that Orlando Scandrick was replacing him in the starting lineup, multiple sources said.The Cowboys could fine Claiborne for missing the practice or conduct detrimental to the team. Claiborne has started two of the Cowboys’ three games amid Scandrick’s 2-game suspension to start the season."
This is the latest bump in the road for Claiborne, a former first round pick who has had an unsteady tenure with the Cowboys ever since he was selected with the no. 6 overall pick in 2012 out of LSU.
In one sense it seems like odd timing, as Claiborne is coming off a good showing in Dallas’s win over the St. Louis Rams this past weekend that included a leaping interception to end the game. Those good vibes were short-lived for Claiborne, however, especially after owner Jerry Jones went on the radio on Tuesday and said this about him (as passed along by Taylor):
"“Is he what we had hoped for at this point when we drafted him with the sixth overall pick, giving up the [second-round] pick to go up to the sixth pick to get him? No,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “But he’s going to be a good player.”"
Imagine that: Jones said something that he probably shouldn’t have on the radio. Shocking.
That said, nothing excuses this childish behavior from Claiborne, and one would expect him to be disciplined accordingly.
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