Brad Penner/Associated Press

Hall of Fame cornerback and Dallas Cowboys legend Deion Sanders said on Tuesday that the Cowboys should bring back wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Appearing on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (h/t NFL.com's Herbie Teope), Sanders, who played in Dallas from 1995 through 1999, expressed his belief that the Cowboys should try to mend fences with Bryant:

"Let's just apologize and say, 'Dez, I'm sorry. I made a mistake. Come on back.' You didn't know Jason Witten was getting ready to [retire]. You didn't know this knucklehead [Terrance Williams] was getting ready to do what he did [when he] got out of the car and [ran] out of the Lamborghini. Who leaves the scene of a crime with a Lamborghini? Let bygones be bygones, bring the dude back and let's move on."

The Cowboys released Bryant in April after eight seasons with the team.

Following Bryant's release, owner Jerry Jones reportedly made it "pretty clear" the Cowboys had no interest in bringing him back, per David Helman of the team's official website.

Since Bryant's release, tight end Jason Witten retired to join the announce team of Monday Night Football.

Wide receiver Terrance Williams was arrested for public intoxication last month after his abandoned Lamborghini was found in Frisco, Texas. The vehicle had struck a light pole.

In an effort to replace Bryant, the Cowboys signed both wide receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in free agency, and they drafted wideouts Michael Gallup in the third round and Cedrick Wilson in the sixth.

The Baltimore Ravens reportedly offered Bryant a multiyear deal. However, Bryant turned it down in hopes that he could sign a one-year contract and test the market again in 2019.

As things stand, Bryant remains unsigned, and he is undoubtedly the most accomplished wideout available.

The 29-year-old veteran is a three-time Pro Bowler, but his numbers have been down over the past three seasons. In 2017, Bryant finished with 69 receptions and six touchdowns.

Since topping 1,200 yards and catching at least 12 touchdowns in each season from 2012 through 2014, Bryant has not exceeded 838 yards (last season) or eight touchdowns in a single campaign.

Despite his recent struggles, Bryant was by far the top wideout on Dallas' roster before his release, as he is the Cowboys' all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 73.