Davison ditches Cowboys

Ex-KU football player leaves Dallas camp, asks to be released

Andrew Davison’s NFL career is in limbo.

Davison, a former Kansas University defensive back, was back in Dallas on Tuesday after he left the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp Monday in Oxnard, Calif.

“I didn’t quit,” Davison told the Journal-World on Tuesday night, disputing a Dallas Morning News report. “I asked to be released.”

The Morning News quoted Davison in Tuesday’s edition saying that he was leaving because of “personal reasons.” But the cornerback, who was second on the depth chart, said he asked to be released so that he could seek more playing time with another team.

“I feel like my chance might be somewhere else,” Davison said. “It’s not anything against the coaches or the team. … It’s up to them whether they release me or not.”

If Dallas doesn’t release Davison, he would be unable to sign with another team because the Cowboys own his rights. The former Jayhawk has five days from the time he left camp to return or he could be placed on the reserve/left squad list, and that would end his season.

“I missed one practice,” Davison said, “and they sent me home.”

Dallas coach Bill Parcells told the Morning News that Davison had been thinking of leaving camp for more than a week.

Theinsiders.com indicated that the final straw for Davison was getting burned on a deep touchdown route in a scrimmage Saturday.

“I felt I was just waiting around to get cut,” he told theinsiders.com Monday.

The Web site indicated Parcells approached Davison between practice sessions Monday and said: “Go get your stuff. I don’t want to see you any more.”

Davison had expressed optimism about his chances of winning a starting job with Dallas last month while conducting a youth camp in the metro area, but he was playing a backup role in camp. Starting for the Cowboys would have been a major leap for Davison, who played in just four games — primarily on special teams — in an injury-plagued 2003 season.

Davison signed a one-year free-agent contract in April for of $380,000, the NFL minimum for a third-year player.

Here are the former Kansas University football players who were listed on 2004 preseason NFL rosters:Dallas Cowboys — CB Andrew Davison (left camp Monday).Detroit Lions — P Curtis Ansel.Houston Texans — FB Moran NorrisNew England Patriots — LB Don Davis, DT Dana Stubblefield (signed Aug. 5)New York Jets — OT Adrian Jones.San Diego Chargers — S Kwamie Lassiter.Tennessee Titans — C Justin Hartwig.Washington Redskins — LB Rod Warner.

The Detroit native intercepted three passes and broke up 12 more as a KU senior in 2001. The four-year starter was not selected in the seven-round 2002 draft, but the rookie signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets and made 11 tackles in six games as a backup defensive back and special-teams player.

In the 2003 preseason, he made 15 tackles and had an interception, but he injured his left ankle in the preseason finale Aug. 28 against Philadelphia and accepted an injury settlement from the Jets.

Dallas, which suffered a series of injuries in its secondary, signed Davison on Sept. 17. The second-year pro played in four games before spraining his knee.