Jason Garrett's decision to cut 2 players for not wearing suits resonated in locker room helped his public perception

IRVING - Running back Christine Michael and cornerback Corey White found out last week what happens when a player doesn't follow Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett's process.

The Cowboys released the two veterans last week, in part, because they were the only two players who didn't wear suits to the team's Week 10 game at Tampa Bay. Garrett requires all players to wear suits to road games.

It's easy for Garrett to make examples out of Michael and White because they were bottom-of-the-roster players who weren't playing well on the field.

Let's face it, if running back Darren McFadden or defensive end Greg Hardy or even receiver Cole Beasley shows up wearing a tie-dye T-shirt and a propeller cap for the plane flight to a road game they're not getting released.

Heck, the Cowboys have stuck by Hardy despite Garrett having to meet with him at least four times already for his off-the-field behavior that didn't live up to the head coach's standards.

It's not hard for a player to adhere to the coach's dress code. But certainly a player who is already on shaky ground and not playing up to expectations shouldn't test the coach's patience, especially during a seven-game losing streak.

Releasing Michael and White also helped Garrett's public perception and resonated with some players in the locker room.

For those who believe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones leads Garrett around by puppet strings, it didn't go unnoticed at Valley Ranch that the head coach told two players to hit the road after they didn't follow his simple edict.

No matter how much you want to believe Jones calls every shot at Valley Ranch, Garrett is the one who is with the players every day, knows the pulse of the locker room and has taken more control of the decision-making with the Cowboys after a strong 12-4 season in 2014 that led to his five-year, $30 million contract extension.