Dallas Cowboys Release Wide Receiver Dez Bryant

FRISCO, TX — The Dallas Cowboys announced Friday Dez Bryant, an 8-year wide receiver for the Dallas team, was released.

In a statement, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the decision was made in the best interest of the team.

"We arrived at this crossroad collectively with input from several voices within the organization. Ultimately we determined it was time to go in a new direction," he wrote in part.

Bryant was set to make $12.5 million in 2018, Cowboys staff writer David Helman wrote. He was in a five-year, $70 million contract signed in 2015, but Bryant struggled to live up to expectations in recent seasons.

Bryant, 29, was first drafted to the Cowboys in 2010. Since that time, he has made three Pro Bowls over eight seasons.

Bryant has 531 career receptions for 7,459 total yards, plus a Cowboys franchise-record 73 receiving touchdowns, DallasCowboys.com reported.

The Cowboys have begun work to replace Bryant with the signing of Allen Hurns to a two-year contract, The Cowboys' news site reported.

Bryant expressed his frustration online, issuing a series of cryptic Tweets before the team announced his release.

Bryant is now a free agent, but nothing can be said yet of what his future in football holds. Bryant was an all-state receiver at Lufkin High School in East Texas before playing his college ball at Oklahoma State University from 2007-2009.

>>> Read Jerry Jones' statement in full here.
>>> Read more about Bryant's release on DallasCowboys.com

Getty Images file photo: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during warmups before playing against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)