FRISCO, Texas — Brian Schottenheimer opened his Monday availability by talking about the players the Dallas Cowboys let go rather than the ones they kept.
Dallas waived 28 players and released 7 on Sunday to reach 53.
“Really emotional last 48 hours or so. The human element is real. The conversations are real,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re trying to build a roster that can handle the strain of 17 regular season games, the grind of the playoffs into the Super Bowl. And the roster is always fluid, but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about that we let some really incredible young men and really good football players out the door. And I am indebted to them for how hard they’ve worked and how much they bought into our culture and what we are building.”
Brian Schottenheimer Says The Cowboys Sit Down With Every Player They Cut
Schottenheimer said the Cowboys give released players feedback they can carry to their next team, and that some of them told the staff afterward they appreciated how it was handled.
“It’s not a handshake, hey, thanks for everything, good luck. We sit down and we visit and we talk,” Schottenheimer explained. “And it’s emotional and there’s tears. It’s probably the worst 48 hours of my job.”
The Two Questions Dallas Asks On Every Roster Decision
Schottenheimer said the staff weighs each cut against a championship standard and against the locker room.
“When we make these decisions, Nicole, we ask ourselves two questions. And one, do we think this helps us win a championship? And two, does this help bolster our culture?” Schottenheimer said. “And sometimes the answers make it very clear. Other times the answers muddy it up a little bit, because if the answer is yes and yes, but there’s someone else that maybe is a little bit more talented. But my obligation is to build a championship football team.”
Dallas kept 6 rookies on the initial 53 and 5 of its 9 draft picks. Three members of the 2025 draft class were waived.
Schottenheimer On Keeping Relationships With Players He Has To Cut
“Some coaches don’t want relationships with their players because it’s a lot easier. Hey, I’m going to cut you, and whatever, you’re just a piece to a puzzle,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m not like that. I’m a people person, man. I love people. And so to me, I make it very clear to them. Hey, guys, we’re going to have tough decisions and we’re going to have hard conversations. And I understand if they don’t still love me, but be guaranteed I still love them.”
Waiver claims across the league processed at noon CT Monday. Dallas claimed running back Emari Demercado and lost safety Julius Wood to the Miami Dolphins.
Dallas opens the regular season Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
