Dallas Cowboys Season

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have released receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

The move avoids a $1 million bonus for Johnson -- and possibly creates room on the Cowboys' roster for Terrell Owens who was released from the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson is a favorite of coach Bill Parcells and was only scheduled to make $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 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 him.

The question for Dallas is whether his pass-catching skills are worth whatever other 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 and Johnson couldn't share enough catches in the same lineup, and almost certainly would clash in one locker room. If Dallas doesn't get Owens, they'd still need someone like him, 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.

Last season, Johnson scored six touchdowns for the Cowboys on 71 receptions for a total of 839 yards. The 33-year-old receiver has spent 10 seasons in the NFL.

Johnson had been with the club since the 2004 season. He has also spent time with the Jets and Buccaneers.

Eagles Release Owens

The veteran wide receiver was due a $5 million roster bonus Wednesday. Philadelphia had to cut him or trade him before then to avoid paying him the money. The move was a formality because Owens was kicked off the team in November following a series of incidents and infractions, including repeated criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The Eagles gave Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to talk with other teams in January. The former All-Pro met with the Denver Broncos. Miami and Dallas reportedly have interest in Owens, and Kansas City president Carl Peterson has said he'd consider giving Owens a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

Owens helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in his first season in Philadelphia, but his problems started when he demanded a new contract just one year into a seven-year, $48.97 million deal.