Cowboys release Keyshawn Johnson
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
March 14, 2006
IRVING, Texas (AP)
With timing and a storyline seemingly borrowed from daytime television, the Dallas Cowboys released leading receiver Keyshawn Johnson only hours after the division rival Philadelphia Eagles cut their tempestuous, talented receiver, Terrell Owens.
The Eagles have long been wary about the Cowboys trying to land Owens, even asking the NFL to punish Dallas owner Jerry Jones for comments in November that they interpreted as trying to woo him. Philadelphia backed off its tampering claim a few days later, but the coming days might prove whether team officials were onto something.
Johnson was released Tuesday to avoid a $1 million bonus. He was scheduled to make only $1.5 million this season, but was seeking an extension and a raise.
"Keyshawn is one of a handful of the top competitors that have ever played for the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said. "The more he was a part of our team, the more we appreciated him as a player."
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.
Owens is two years younger and more dynamic, with defenses fearing him deep and across the middle. He has also been disruptive to his own teams, leaving bad feelings in San Francisco and wearing out his welcome even more quickly in Philadelphia, albeit after helping the Eagles get to the Super Bowl.
Owens in a Dallas uniform would be a stunning turn of events considering how reviled he was for celebrating touchdowns against the Cowboys on the team's midfield logo at Texas Stadium. But he's a marquee player in every sense, and Jones has never shied from those types.
Adding to the intrigue is the presence of coach Bill Parcells. He had no problem taking in Johnson two years ago when the receiver was coming off a spat with Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, but that was different because they'd been together before.
An Owens-Parcells pairing would be nothing if not interesting, although the same was thought about Parcells and Jones, and they're three years into their relationship without any known blowups.
Then again, Owens might not even want to play in Dallas. The Cowboys are coming off a 9-7 season and seeming to be more than a big-time receiver away from a championship. He also may not appreciate the one-liners and nicknames Parcells uses to motivate players.
Still, Dallas is among four teams Owens is believed to be considering.
He has already met with the Denver Broncos, and Kansas City president Carl Peterson has said he'd consider giving Johnson a one-year, incentive-laden deal. Miami is another possibility, one that may pique Johnson's interest more following the acquisition of quarterback Daunte Culpepper on Tuesday.
If Owens signs elsewhere, Dallas would still need someone like him and Johnson: A big, sure-handed receiver who can catch make the tough catches that keep drives alive. Terry Glenn is the only other accomplished receiver on the Cowboys' roster and he's more of the small, speedy type.
Another possible replacement 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.
Another intriguing option: Johnson, who could still be re-signed.
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.
Dallas also needs a new blocking tight end following Dan Campbell's signing Tuesday with Detroit.
The Cowboys acquired Johnson from Tampa Bay in a trade for Joey Galloway after the Bucs deactivated him for the final four games of the 2003 season, a move the Eagles mimicked when they told Owens he was no longer wanted seven games into last season.
Johnson's spat with Gruden added to a list of incidents that had him mockingly branded "Me-shawn." Yet 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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Cowboys release Keyshawn
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