Cowboys bench former first-round pick Morris Claiborne
Morris Claiborne has been replaced as a starter. (MCT via Getty Images)
The Dallas Cowboys have benched cornerback Morris Claiborne, the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins reported.
Orlando Scandrick will now start at right cornerback, but the team will continue to give Claiborne some playing time in passing situations. Claiborne has been burned repeatedly and coach Jason Garrett thinks he is lacking both confidence and proper technique.
“I think it’s probably a combination,” Garrett said. “Technically, you go back at each of the completions against him and you say, ‘Hey, you should do this. You should do that.’ But I also think confidence, playing that position, is critical. And usually those two things work hand in hand.
"When you’re playing technically sound and you have ability, you tend to have more and more confidence because you’re in the right place. They went to him too much in this ballgame, and they were too effective. He’s just got to play better, and he will play better.”
Claiborne's struggles may stem partly from an injury. He dislocated his left shoulder in the season opener and has played through the pain. But Dallas still expected more from him.
