The National Football League’s first day of free agency started with a bang. After another disappointing season in which the Dallas Cowboys once again failed to make the playoffs, team owner Jerry Jones and company decided to release the organization’s all-time sack leader DeMarcus Ware and Pro Bowl wide receiver Miles Austin.

Ware has been a total defensive beast for the Boys for nine seasons in which the linebacker has tallied 117 sacks, averaging 21 sacks a season. However, the 31-year-old former first-rounder is coming off an injury-plagued season on a defensively challenged Dallas squad. Ware only got to the quarterback six times in 2013.

The move made sense for the Cowboys because it freed up $7.4 million in cap space. Even still, it was a tough decision to make for Jones. “A decision like this, involving a man who is a cornerstone player in the history of your franchise, is extremely difficult.”

Additionally, Dallas has also officially released two-time Pro Bowler Miles Austin. The move will save Dallas $5.5 million against the cap.

Well, at least Jerry Jones hasn't lost any of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 12, 2014

Breaking: The Dallas Cowboys will reportedly cut Demarcus Ware yet retain Jerry Jones. This explains the last 15 years.

— Colin Cowherd (@ESPN_Colin) March 11, 2014

One of the former Cowboys already has a job. Ware signed a three-year contract worth $30 million with the Denver Broncos not 24 hours after being released by the Cowboys. A whopping $20 million of the contract is guaranteed. The Broncos, who just got pummeled in the Super Bowl by the Seattle Seahawks, also signed cornerback Aqib Talib to a six-year deal worth $57 million, of which $26 million is guaranteed.

John Elway better hope they win a Super Bowl in the next two years of the Broncos become the Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins real fast.

— Mike Loyko (@NEPD_Loyko) March 12, 2014

Now, the Cowboys have to go out and try to find a defensive replacement on par with Ware, which won’t be easy. There are rumors that the team is interested in Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers, a five-year player out of Tennessee.

Image via Dallas Cowboys, Twitter