T.O. For Sale!!

NFL.com Wire Reports

Terrell Owens ' days in Dallas are done, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed to NFL Network on Thursday, saying "it was a tough decision."

The Dallas Morning News , the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and ESPN, among others, cited sources Wednesday night saying that the Cowboys had decided to cut the wide receiver, ridding them of a big locker-room distraction but also absorbing a big hit on their salary cap.



Terrell Owens' days in Dallas are over.

Cowboys wide receiver Sam Hurd said on Thursday that Owens had sent him a text message the previous night to say he had been cut by the team.

"He didn't give me an explanation. He just said, 'Wow,'" Hurd said. "I really didn't believe that he seen that coming."

Hurd said Owens' reaction was "more shock than anger."

"He said it's tough, but it's a business," Hurd said.

Just a few weeks ago, Jones indicated that Owens would stay in Dallas 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."

The Cowboys reportedly made another, more-expected move Thursday by releasing safety Roy Williams.

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, didn't immediately return a call to The Associated Press.

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

In January, NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi reported that the Cowboys were considering cutting Owens. The receiver was scheduled to carry a 2009 salary-cap number of $8.995 million. By releasing him before June, his 2009 salary-cap charge to Dallas increases to $9.675 million.

Owens' absence means one less high-profile player to open the Cowboys' new $1.1 billion stadium and fewer No. 81 jerseys to sell.

While Tony Romo also will be without the recipient of most of his touchdown passes, he also will no longer have to make sure T.O. has enough passes his way to make him happy. Whether that was perception or reality will no longer matter either.

The Cowboys went 31-17 in Owens' three seasons, but 0-2 in the playoffs.

Jones essentially forced Owens on then-coach Bill Parcells, a relationship underscored by Parcells referring to Owens as "the player." Owens drew attention to himself during training camp by dressing up as a pro cyclist while riding a stationary bike, then had an accidental overdose early that season.

Yet when Parcells turned to unproven Romo midway through that season, Owens sparkled. They kept it up the next season, leading the Cowboys to all sorts of team records on their way to a 13-3 season and a division title. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game, days after Romo and others went on a trip to Mexico, and Owens tearfully defended Romo, saying, "That's my quarterback."

Owens received a new contract last summer, a four-year, $34 million deal that included a $12 million bonus.

Where might he end up next?

Owens isn't likely to return to San Francisco or Philadelphia, the other places he wore out his welcome. Then again, it seemed unlikely he would come to Dallas after having offended Cowboys fans by celebrating on the team's star logo while playing for the 49ers.

Don't expect him in Miami, not as long as Parcells is in charge. And perhaps also count out Kansas City because new Chiefs coach Todd Haley and Owens hardly got along when Haley was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator.

The Cowboys still should have a potent passing game, at least if wide receiver Roy Williams can live up to his big contract and the two draft picks that Dallas gave up to get him from the Detroit Lions . Romo also still has his favorite target, tight end Jason Witten .

Over three years with the Cowboys, Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games. He led the NFL with 13 receiving TDs in 2006, his first season in Dallas.

Over his 13-year NFL career, Owens is a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career receiving yards and sixth in career receptions. He turned 35 in December, but he remains a physical specimen.

Just keep him away from tha Eagles..we do not want him