By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
March 19, 2004
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Keyshawn Johnson's reunion with Bill Parcells is finally ensured.
Three weeks after agreeing to a contract with the Parcells-coached Dallas Cowboys, Johnson was able to sign it Friday after Joey Galloway agreed to be dealt to Tampa Bay in a swap of receivers.
The Galloway-for-Johnson deal was in the works since late February. It was delayed because Galloway and the Buccaneers couldn't agree on a contract.
The Bucs offered Thursday a one-year deal for $2 million with another $600,000 in reachable incentives, according to a source close to negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity. Galloway wanted to sleep on it before making a final decision.
His Dallas deal would've paid $6.31 million this season, but the Cowboys likely would've cut him once they got Johnson. Galloway said he knew when he signed his seven-year, $42 million contract with Dallas in 2000 that it was going to change.
``There was no doubt in my mind I'd have to take a pay cut,'' Galloway said. ``We just had to come to an agreement on what the contract would be. I think both sides had confidence it would get done. There was no point in time did I want to play with anyone but Tampa Bay.''
Johnson was so confident he was coming to Dallas that he already began house hunting.
After all, had the trade fallen through, Tampa Bay would've released him by April 1 to avoid paying a $1 million roster bonus, and he would've signed with the Cowboys as a free agent. His new contract is for $20 million over four years with a $4 million bonus.
Both players are former 1,000-yard receivers coming off down years. Both originally were acquired for two first-round draft picks and neither lived up to expectations, although the Bucs did win a Super Bowl with Johnson.
Tampa Bay made Johnson inactive the final six games last season, citing his ongoing squabbles with coach Jon Gruden as a detriment to the team. Similar problems aren't anticipated in Dallas because he'll be playing for Parcells, his coach for three years with the New York Jets.
While Johnson played only 10 games, his numbers (45 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns) were almost as good as Galloway put up in 15 games -- 34 catches for 672 yards and two TDs. They were his lowest totals in his three full seasons with the Cowboys.
March 19, 2004
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Keyshawn Johnson's reunion with Bill Parcells is finally ensured.
Three weeks after agreeing to a contract with the Parcells-coached Dallas Cowboys, Johnson was able to sign it Friday after Joey Galloway agreed to be dealt to Tampa Bay in a swap of receivers.
The Galloway-for-Johnson deal was in the works since late February. It was delayed because Galloway and the Buccaneers couldn't agree on a contract.
The Bucs offered Thursday a one-year deal for $2 million with another $600,000 in reachable incentives, according to a source close to negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity. Galloway wanted to sleep on it before making a final decision.
His Dallas deal would've paid $6.31 million this season, but the Cowboys likely would've cut him once they got Johnson. Galloway said he knew when he signed his seven-year, $42 million contract with Dallas in 2000 that it was going to change.
``There was no doubt in my mind I'd have to take a pay cut,'' Galloway said. ``We just had to come to an agreement on what the contract would be. I think both sides had confidence it would get done. There was no point in time did I want to play with anyone but Tampa Bay.''
Johnson was so confident he was coming to Dallas that he already began house hunting.
After all, had the trade fallen through, Tampa Bay would've released him by April 1 to avoid paying a $1 million roster bonus, and he would've signed with the Cowboys as a free agent. His new contract is for $20 million over four years with a $4 million bonus.
Both players are former 1,000-yard receivers coming off down years. Both originally were acquired for two first-round draft picks and neither lived up to expectations, although the Bucs did win a Super Bowl with Johnson.
Tampa Bay made Johnson inactive the final six games last season, citing his ongoing squabbles with coach Jon Gruden as a detriment to the team. Similar problems aren't anticipated in Dallas because he'll be playing for Parcells, his coach for three years with the New York Jets.
While Johnson played only 10 games, his numbers (45 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns) were almost as good as Galloway put up in 15 games -- 34 catches for 672 yards and two TDs. They were his lowest totals in his three full seasons with the Cowboys.
