Yeah that makes absolutely no sense... Which is why I'm fairly certain that's not what happened.
I have no insider insight, and those that do certainly won't share it, but common sense dictates that Alford isn't simply an innocent bystander numbers casualty. If that's the intention there's some lower hanging fruit to purge.
Without knowing Coach Brown's team rules though there's no telling what might've led to dismissal Vs simple parting of ways. Alford did SOMETHING to warrant being made example of I'm guessing, of which we may never know nor have the right to now