The Dallas Cowboys started the purge of some under achieving veterans when they cut starting left tackle Flozell Adams and free safety Ken Hamlin on Friday morning, according to multiple sources.

Hamlin was coming off an average season where he finished with 74 tackles, no interceptions and four pass breakups. He missed four games with a high ankle sprain.

"I would like to say to all my fans that I appreciate all the love that you have showed me in Dallas," Hamlin said on his Twitter page. "It was a good run&..Thanks."

This was an interesting week for Hamlin, who missed the first day of the voluntary workouts because his scheduled flight out of Los Angeles didn't allow him to get to Dallas on time. Hamlin, along with wide receiver Miles Austin and cornerback Terence Newman, spent the weekend with several other NFL players attending the Playboy Golf Scramble at the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms Resort in Industry Hills, Calif.

When asked by an ESPN reporter, who attended the party, about the chances of meeting his future wife at the Playboy Mansion Hamlin said, "I'm not holding out too much hope for meeting a wife. I'm just going to live in the moment."

As far as the Cowboys are concerned, the on-the-field moments are over.

Hamlin signed a one-year contract in 2007 after spending four seasons in Seattle. Hamlin earned his first Pro Bowl berth that year where he compiled career highs in tackles (102) and interceptions (five). The Cowboys rewarded Hamlin with a six-year $39 million deal.

But Hamlin's numbers went down in 2008 where he had 92 tackles and just one interception. Last season, Hamlin missed four games with a high ankle sprain and was replaced by Alan Ball. At the time, coach Wade Phillips praised Ball's work for getting the secondary in place and for making plays.

Hamlin returned for the final three games of the regular season and had 15 tackles and one pass breakup. Phillips said Hamlin was playing better toward the end of the season.

The Cowboys have a few options at safety in Michael Hamlin and Ball. Both Hamlin and Adams did not show for workouts scheduled today at Valley Ranch.

Not so with Safety...there's basically three impact names. Berry (of course), Mays (who I think may become an excellent SS) and Thomas. NONE of those will be there at #43.

They also released Flozell Adams. I wonder if he has much left in the tank? Could he play another position besides LT? Just curious if he was able to play another position, we could shift some talent around and shore up our line now that we will be needing to fill holes at the LG and RG positions.

Since when do we have holes at Guard?

We're trading Justin Smiley. Incognito is only signed for a year, and the RG position was weak last year.

Thomas would be good if you run a Tampa 2...but he's not going to be able to matchup with any tight ends very well.

Why couldn't he?

Iowa and paw....You have to have enough length to get around TE's. Earl does not have that.

Phins, Eric Berry and Earl Thomas are pretty much the same size and you are willing to trade up and get Berry.

Eric is 5'11 5/8, 211 lbs and Earl is 5' 10 1/4, 208. Arm length is 33 1/4 for Berry to 31 1/4 for Earl.

Not necessarily, speed, vertical and timing make up for any size difference. Unless it's just too significant, like a 250lb, 6'5'' TE would just dominate someone like Bob Sanders or Jim Leonhard. Regardless...don't put your safety in a situation like that.

So you're going to put your LB's in a position to cover athletic TE's?? Berry can cover the TE, which is one of the things that makes him so special, IMO.

And then you leave the seem wide open for other guys....

A great TE is going to burn you whatever you do, whether it is him making the play or opening things up elsewhere. But having a guy like Berry could really limit what the TE can do, and could work wonders for a defense, now not having to worry about the TE as much.

Plus, if you add in Berry's playmaking ability all over the field, and the versatility he provides as far as being able to play near the box and play the run, (something we NEED our FS to be able to do), and the lack of ability that Thomas has from that standpoint....The difference between them becomes even larger, especially for a 34 team like Miami.

Berry is the truth. Thomas is a very good player, but does not fit our defense, IMO, and is not nearly the playmaker that Berry is.

Don't get me wrong, I do like Thomas. He's an extremely good character guy with a great work ethic and all that. But Berry is a once in a decade type of prospect at Safety. I know many would disagree, but I really think Berry is the next Polamalu.

He's one of the most physical Safeties in the draft, and has no qualms about sacrificing his body for a play. Some think that he's better suited to play a very physical CB in the NFL, to maximize his coverage skills, and try and keep his body intact.
But he's got great strength both in coverage and in run support, he runs very well, is a great leaper, and has soft hands. He can blitz when asked to, and literally anchors the back 4 of the Longhorn defense.
Reminds me of: Troy Polamalu, S Pittsburgh Steelers-Both a little undersized, super aggressive, and able to do anything on the football field. Thomas can certainly grow into the kind of impact player Polamalu is, given the right scheme and coaching. All the physical tools are there.

...he is not a weak player. He has good coverage skills and a ton of speed, so he could be converted into a corner. However, he has enough strength to play strong safety in most systems...

Since when do we have holes at Guard?

You can't be serious......?

Quite.

Even if we do trade Smiley, we have a rising star in Donald Thomas; a very good OG in Richie Incognito that just got signed; and Nate Garner, who despite last year being his first year at guard, played really well.

Right now, without Smiley, we still have 3 legit. starting guards. We also have a guy like Berger who can kick out to guard as well.

Ken .. Ken Hamlin