Dez Bryant likes to sign with Cowboys

Free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant said Tuesday that the team he would most like to sign with is the team that released him in April: the Dallas Cowboys.

Responding to a tweet asking who he will sign with, Bryant wrote, "I'll rather it be the Dallas Cowboys if not I'll be ready to play somewhere else."

The sentiment stands in stark contrast to some of Bryant's previous words.

After the Cowboys lost in Week 1, Bryant replied to a tweet from a Cowboys fan asking him to come back to Dallas by saying, "I rather go somewhere I can showcase my skills for real," suggesting the New England Patriots or Washington Redskins. He had previously said he wanted to play for another NFC East team, so he could face the Cowboys twice a year.

Bryant also was critical of several former teammates following his release, suggesting head coach Jason Garrett's "guys" facilitated his departure behind his back. He declined to name anyone at the time but did so in a series of tweets in July when he criticized the team's "garbage playcalling" and called Sean Lee a "snake," accusing the linebacker of being behind Bryant's release.

Bryant, who turns 30 next month, remains unsigned after he turned down a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens shortly after his release, reportedly as he sought a one-year "prove-it" deal with a contender. Bryant also visited the Cleveland Browns during training camp, but no agreement materialized.

A first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2010, Bryant had 73 touchdowns and 531 receptions for 7,459 yards in 113 games, but he hasn't topped 850 yards in a season since 2014. He finished last season with 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns while playing in all 16 games for the first time since 2014.

The three-time Pro Bowler made $13 million in base salary last year, the third year of a five-year, $70 million pact signed in July of 2015. The Cowboys saved $8.5 million by releasing him, and he still counts $8 million in dead money against their cap.

(With inputs from agencies.)