IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ patience with Joseph Randle ran out Tuesday.
The Cowboys waived the third-year running back only two days after owner Jerry Jones said the team would show “patience” with Randle as he deals with personal issues.
It ended a bizarre week for Randle: He strained his oblique in the Oct. 25 game against the Giants, and then lost his starting job to Darren McFadden as he watched from the sideline; he found out he faces discipline from the league under the personal conduct policy for his involvement in a domestic violence incident in Wichita, Kan., last spring; he expressed concerns about his girlfriend, calling police to his house Wednesday afternoon when he bolted from the facility, though they found nothing wrong.
Randle spent most of last week away from the team facility, including meeting with team counselors as the Cowboys expressed concern for his mental health. He did not attend Sunday’s game against Seattle at AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys made him inactive.
Randle, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in 2013, started the first six games this season, gaining 315 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 76 carries. He finished his 35-game career in Dallas with 181 carries for 820 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Cowboys didn’t trust Randle, though.
He was arrested twice in a four-month span from last October to February. He was investigated for shoplifting, marijuana possession and domestic violence.
The involvement in the domestic violence incident in Wichita, Kan., might play a role in his NFL future.
Randle didn’t face felony charges for domestic violence after the Sedgwick County (Kan.) District Attorney’s Office concluded there was “a lack of evidence” to go forward with the case in August. But the NFL still can punish him under the personal conduct policy and some sort of discipline is expected.
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