Cowboys release WR Owens has 1 comments

Mar 5th 2009, 12:25 | FFN-Score: 4 points

Wide receiver Terrell Owens is out in Dallas after three seasons, Cowboys sources told FOXSports.com.

The move to cut Owens comes a season after the team gave him a four-year, $34 million extension that included a $12 million bonus. When asked about now cutting the receiver, one Cowboys source said, "It was the right thing to do," alluding to the fact that the team is trying to create a more harmonious locker room.

The team already released talented but troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones this offseason.

The Cowboys lost three of their past four games to miss the playoffs this past season and during that time there was highly publicized friction among Owens, quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten.

It was believed that Owens, 35, felt he wasn't getting enough passes because Romo looked more for his friend Witten.

The Cowboys wanted to put Romo in position to be a leader on the team for 2009 and obviously this move supports that notion.

In May 2008, Owens told the Dallas Morning News he "definitely" wanted to finish his career in Dallas and enter the Hall of Fame as a Cowboy.

Owens had 69 receptions last season for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Just a few weeks ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that T.O. was staying when he said, "You and I both know that the one that you're asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would've already had it. So the fact you don't have it ought to tell you something. It really should."

Jones seemed to enjoy the publicity Owens stirred up as much as the touchdowns he scored. However, there were several in-house issues involving Owens that may have ultimately prompted Jones to decide the receiver wasn't worth the trouble he caused.

Owens will count about $9 million against the cap.

He has produced big numbers wherever he's played, but he's had problems with his starting quarterbacks.

When he was with the San Francisco 49ers to start the decade, Owens and Jeff Garcia couldn't get along. Owens wasn't shy about hurling insults the quarterback's way.

The 49ers dealt Owens to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 and he helped spur the team to the Super Bowl, where Philly lost to the New England Patriots.

Owens had returned from ankle surgery in 6 1/2 weeks and had nine receptions in the game.


That was the pinnacle of his stint with the Eagles. Soon after the loss, he sought a restructured contract and criticized quarterback Donovan McNabb's performance late in the Super Bowl.

Owens insinuated that McNabb got sick when the game got tight.

The receiver played in seven games in 2005 before the Eagles told him to stay away from the team.

He signed with the Cowboys the next season, and even though he put up big numbers, Dallas never won a playoff game in his three seasons.

Over his 13-year career, he's a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.