The writing has been on the wall for Marc Colombo this week, but the Cowboys made it official on Thursday.
Colombo was released along with eight other players. Colombo started every game he played in for the Cowboys over the last five seasons, but his play dropped to a point where the team found it hard to justify his price tag. Colombo was due to make $1.9 million in base salary, a 2.6 million option bonus and a $500,000 roster bonus this season and would have counted $2.4 million against the cap. That was just too big a number with first-round pick Tyron Smith there to step into the lineup.
Colombo joins another 2010 offensive line starter, guard Leonard Davis, on the cut list. As previously reported, Marion Barber and Roy Williams were also given their walking papers on Thursday.
The other now former Cowboys are wide receiver Troy Bergeron, tackle Robert Brewster, guard Travis Bright, kicker Kris Brown and linebacker Kelvin Smith.