Galloway's signing part of Cowboys improve-now philosophy

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys, desperate to give Troy Aikman a big-time receiver, obtained Seattle's Joey Galloway Saturday for a high price -- two first-round draft picks and $42 million

Saturday, February 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys, desperate to give Troy Aikman a big-time receiver, obtained Seattle's Joey Galloway Saturday for a high price -- two first-round draft picks and $42 million over seven years. "This really does complement everything we have done and is in synch with our plans for this team," owner Jerry Jones said. "Our basic philosophy is that we have made a change in offense."

After a first-round playoff loss following a second straight 8-8 regular season, coach Chan Gailey was fired and replaced by Dave Campo. Former quarterbacks coach Jack Reilly was hired to bring back the same offense the Cowboys ran when they won three Super Bowls from 1992-95.

Galloway, 28, gives Aikman another proven receiver and takes pressure off Raghib Ismail, whose production dropped after Michael Irvin suffered a season-ending and possible career-ending neck injury. However, he is more like Ismail, an outside speed receiver, than like Irvin, who can provide tough yards over the middle.

In his first four NFL seasons, Galloway had 1,000 yards in receptions three times. He was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 1995, and had 65 receptions for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1998, his last full season. Last season, he held out for eight games, then caught just 22 passes and scored just one TD in the final eight games. After an arbitrator ruled those eight games were sufficient to give him a free agent, Seattle designated him its franchise player, meaning any team that signed him needed to give up two No. 1s.

For Dallas, that meant the 19th overall pick in April's draft plus their No. 1 next year. Mike Holmgren, Seattle's coach and general manager, seemed more than satisfied. "I certainly wanted him last year with us the whole season," Holmgren said of Galloway. "It didn't work that way, unfortunately. When you go through something like that, you sure don't want to go through something like that again. I don't ever want to do that again."

Jones first started talking to Holmgren about Galloway last fall, and worked quickly to complete a deal when the NFL's free agency period began Friday. During the process, Galloway switched agents, from Eric Metz to Steinberg, who also represents Aikman. "The situation in Seattle deteriorated on the field in so many ways, I'm glad that is behind me," Galloway said. "I hope I shook off the rust in the 10 games I did play last year."

In addition to getting two first-round picks, the Seahawks eliminated $4.1 million from their salary cap, a move Holmgren said his team needed to make. As for Irvin, his $3 million contract option was rejected by the Cowboys last week and he hasn't decided about his future. "The final decision by Michael and his family has not been made," Jones said. "We had to be ready to go to make this decision."

The Irvin move was one of several the Cowboys made to get under the NFL's $62 million salary cap and have some versatility to sign a player of Galloway's caliber. The Cowboys also released linebacker Quentin Coryatt ($5.5 million) and offensive guard Everett McIver ($1.6 million).

Galloway's deal included a $12.5 million signing bonus, about $2.2 million of which will apply to this year's salary cap. Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said the Galloway signing would have no effect on what will happen to Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders or the signing of any other player.

The Cowboys are expected to void Sanders' contract on June 2, rather than pay his full $12.7 million salary in 2000. Sanders has even said that he doesn't expect to be back in Dallas next season.