The Dallas Cowboys cut star wide receiver Terrell Owens tonight, according to Michael Smith of ESPN.com.
ESPN has posted a breaking news item on the front page of its Web site.
The report cites two sources, per the Cowboys blog on the Dallas Morning News.
In late February, Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones issued this comment when asked about Owens’ possible release: “That [Cowboys vice president and Jones’ son] Stephen [Jones] and I were debating about Terrell, that’s just misinformation. That’s just not accurate. I don’t know where that comes from. That’s just total misinformation.”
The Cowboys’ official Web site still lists Owens on the roster, but has posted a blog referencing the ESPN report. Per the blog, the Cowboys have not confirmed that Owens is off the team.
The headline on DallasCowboys.com states: “Looks Like T.O. Gone,” with a subheading that says, “Reports Claim Owens Released; Cowboys Mum.”
As of 1:00 a.m. EST, no Cowboys official would confirm the report to the official Web site or issue a comment.
According to NFL.com, Owens had 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
UPDATE: Citing sources, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has confirmed ESPN’s report that the Cowboys have released Owens.
Per the Star-Telegram, Owens, 35, was paid a $12 million signing bonus last year. It was a portion of his four-year, $34 million contract.
Updating the newspaper’s initial report, Clarence Hill and Mac Engel of the Star-Telegram wrote that “petulant and controversial receiver Terrell Owens is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys.”
The article references Owens’ run-ins last season with quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Sources told the newspaper: “[T]he decision to drop Owens had everything to do with his age, and the fact he is no longer regarded as a legit No. 1 receiver.”
Jones reportedly had spent weeks seeking input throughout the organization about Owens before reaching a conclusion that “Owens had become a distraction” and needed to be released prior to the launch of the offseason conditioning program scheduled to start in a few weeks.
On June 1, Owens was due a $3.1 million roster bonus.
UPDATE II: Now, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News has confirmed that Owens has been cut, citing a source.
Watkins reports that team officials told Owens tonight that they “had decided to go in a different direction,” adding that “multiple sources” said that Owens’ potential exit had been under discussion for several days.
Apparently, the final decision to take this action wasn’t made until Wednesday night.
Watkins reports that agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents Owens, and Owens didn’t return telephone calls.
Writing on the Morning News’ Cowboys blog, Tim MacMahon points out that Jery Jones issued a telling quote to Dallas television reporter Steve Dennis in a recent interview where Jones discussed wide receiver Roy Williams’ role for next season.
“We all understand and maybe, maybe need to think through, is there enough balls?” Jones said. “Can there be enough balls to go around here? I think that’s very, very important here. And we want Roy Williams to have a lot of balls.”
UPDATE III: Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com has also confirmed the reports, citing Cowboys sources, and writes that the transaction “seems to fit with the Cowboys’ plan to have a more harmonious locker room for 2009.”
Glazer pointed out that Owens told the Dallas Morning News in May last year that he wanted to conclude his career with the Cowboys.
UPDATE IV: Per the Associated Press, a spokesman for the wide receiver said that Owens “hadn’t heard the news,” adding that Owens was traveling and couldn’t be reached for comment.