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Updated: March 14, 2006, 5:23 PM ET
Cowboys cut Johnson, opening up extra cap roomAssociated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys released receiver Keyshawn Johnson on Tuesday, avoiding a $1 million bonus he was due and possibly creating room for Terrell Owens in the lineup and the locker room.
Johnson is a favorite of coach Bill Parcells and was scheduled to make only $1.5 million this season. However, he was seeking an extension and a raise, and the Cowboys apparently wanted to keep their options open -- perhaps especially because T.O. is available.
"Keyshawn is one of a handful of the top competitors that have ever played for the Dallas Cowboys," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "The more he was a part of our team, the more we appreciated him as a player."
The tempestuous but talented Owens was released a few hours earlier Tuesday by Philadelphia, making him a free agent. Jones has never shied from big-name players regardless of the cost or risk, and the Eagles have long been wary about their division rivals trying to land Owens since they decided to get rid of him.
The question for Dallas is whether Owens' pass-catching skills are worth whatever trouble he may cause, especially since the Cowboys are coming off a 9-7 season and likely need more than a big-time receiver to reach the Super Bowl. Owens also might be a tough sell to fans still angry at him for having celebrated touchdowns against Dallas on the midfield logo at Texas Stadium.
Because of their playing styles and personalities, Owens and Johnson would be a bad fit as teammates. If the Cowboys end up without either, they'd need someone like them: A big, sure-handed receiver who can catch passes over the middle. Terry Glenn is the only other accomplished receiver on the Cowboys' roster and he's more of the small, speedy type.
Johnson turns 34 this summer and is coming off a solid season. He led the team in receptions with 71, and had 839 yards and six touchdowns.
He still could be re-signed, possibly even at the higher price he was seeking.
Another intriguing replacement Dallas might consider is Buffalo's Eric Moulds, who had some of his best years playing for Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe when they were teammates from 2002-04. Moulds' personal adviser told The Associated Press on Monday that the receiver has asked to be traded or released. He has two years left on a contract that's scheduled to pay him more than $7.1 million next season.
Dallas already has missed out on Antwaan Randle El, who signed with Washington, and Brandon Lloyd, who also joined the Redskins in a trade from San Francisco. The 49ers have signed Antonio Bryant, but the Cowboys were unlikely to be interested in someone they gave up on a few years ago after he threw a sweaty jersey at Parcells.
Like Owens now, Johnson came marked "handle with care" when Dallas acquired him from Tampa Bay in a trade for Joey Galloway.
Public perception of Johnson was low because he'd been deactivated the last four games of the 2003 season following a spat with Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, adding to a list of incidents that had him mockingly branded "Me-shawn."
Over two years with the Cowboys, Johnson made only ripples, not waves, and was a solid producer. His 25 receptions on third downs last season were eighth-best in the NFL and several of his touchdowns were game-winners. He never missed a game despite various injuries.
Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick by the New York Jets in 1996. He spent four seasons there and four more in Tampa Bay. After 10 seasons, he's 20th on the career receptions list with 744. He's caught a pass in all 151 games of his career, four behind Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison for the longest active streak.
Cowboys cut Johnson, opening up extra cap roomAssociated Press
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys released receiver Keyshawn Johnson on Tuesday, avoiding a $1 million bonus he was due and possibly creating room for Terrell Owens in the lineup and the locker room.
Johnson is a favorite of coach Bill Parcells and was scheduled to make only $1.5 million this season. However, he was seeking an extension and a raise, and the Cowboys apparently wanted to keep their options open -- perhaps especially because T.O. is available.
"Keyshawn is one of a handful of the top competitors that have ever played for the Dallas Cowboys," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "The more he was a part of our team, the more we appreciated him as a player."
The tempestuous but talented Owens was released a few hours earlier Tuesday by Philadelphia, making him a free agent. Jones has never shied from big-name players regardless of the cost or risk, and the Eagles have long been wary about their division rivals trying to land Owens since they decided to get rid of him.
The question for Dallas is whether Owens' pass-catching skills are worth whatever trouble he may cause, especially since the Cowboys are coming off a 9-7 season and likely need more than a big-time receiver to reach the Super Bowl. Owens also might be a tough sell to fans still angry at him for having celebrated touchdowns against Dallas on the midfield logo at Texas Stadium.
Because of their playing styles and personalities, Owens and Johnson would be a bad fit as teammates. If the Cowboys end up without either, they'd need someone like them: A big, sure-handed receiver who can catch passes over the middle. Terry Glenn is the only other accomplished receiver on the Cowboys' roster and he's more of the small, speedy type.
Johnson turns 34 this summer and is coming off a solid season. He led the team in receptions with 71, and had 839 yards and six touchdowns.
He still could be re-signed, possibly even at the higher price he was seeking.
Another intriguing replacement Dallas might consider is Buffalo's Eric Moulds, who had some of his best years playing for Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe when they were teammates from 2002-04. Moulds' personal adviser told The Associated Press on Monday that the receiver has asked to be traded or released. He has two years left on a contract that's scheduled to pay him more than $7.1 million next season.
Dallas already has missed out on Antwaan Randle El, who signed with Washington, and Brandon Lloyd, who also joined the Redskins in a trade from San Francisco. The 49ers have signed Antonio Bryant, but the Cowboys were unlikely to be interested in someone they gave up on a few years ago after he threw a sweaty jersey at Parcells.
Like Owens now, Johnson came marked "handle with care" when Dallas acquired him from Tampa Bay in a trade for Joey Galloway.
Public perception of Johnson was low because he'd been deactivated the last four games of the 2003 season following a spat with Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, adding to a list of incidents that had him mockingly branded "Me-shawn."
Over two years with the Cowboys, Johnson made only ripples, not waves, and was a solid producer. His 25 receptions on third downs last season were eighth-best in the NFL and several of his touchdowns were game-winners. He never missed a game despite various injuries.
Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick by the New York Jets in 1996. He spent four seasons there and four more in Tampa Bay. After 10 seasons, he's 20th on the career receptions list with 744. He's caught a pass in all 151 games of his career, four behind Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison for the longest active streak.
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