The Dallas Cowboys parted ways with troubled running back Joseph Randle who opened the 2015 National Football League (NFL) regular season as the team's starter at the position.
According to Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones, the release of Randle is not connected to the possible suspension he will be getting from the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
"We don't want to go there as an organization as far as our relationship with Randle. We just think it's time for us to not have him on the roster. That's the decision we made today, and we stand ready to help him work through any of his other issues," Jones said, according to ESPN.
Along with his off field woes, Randle is also suffering from oblique strain and lost his starting job to Darren McFadden.
Randle entered the season having huge shoes to fill as he was replacing running back DeMarco Murray who led the NFL in the 2014 season rushing for 1,845 yards.
But Murray left in the offseason and as a free agent signed a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Randle, in his third season with Dallas, did a decent job having 76 carries for 315 yards and four touchdowns in six games played.
But the emergence of McFadden in the Cowboys' recent games made him lose the starting duties and was also a factor considered in his release, according to Jones.
"Well, we've been pleased with how McFadden has basically stepped up his competitiveness. His resolve has given us a foundation and a leadership at the running back position," Jones stated, according to ESPN.
McFadden's first start was in their recent 13–12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks where he had 20 carries for 64 yards but failed to score a touchdown.
The 28-year-old also had a good receiving game against Seattle having six receptions for 49 yards but also failed to convert into a score.
In seven games played this season, his first year with the Cowboys, McFadden has 86 carries for 345 yards and two touchdowns.
