The Cowboys reached a contract agreement in principle with Galloway on Friday afternoon and then the pact was formalized later in the evening. Galloway will sign a seven-year contract worth $42 million which includes a signing bonus of $12.5 million. Galloway had been designated as a "franchise" free agent by the Seahawks.

One key to the trade talks between the two teams, which began after the Cowboys had struck the contract agreement with the wide receiver, is that Galloway abruptly switched agents on Friday, firing longtime representative Eric Metz and hiring Leigh Steinberg.

Steinberg has a strong relationship with Dallas owner Jerry Jones and Seattle coach and general manager Mike Holmgren. He also represents Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who certainly will benefit from the addition of Galloway to a wide receiver corps weakened in 1999 by the injury to Michael Irvin, who will retire during this offseason.

Joey Galloway is all set for Dallas next season.(AP)

A five-year veteran and first-round draft choice of the Seahawks in 1995, Galloway had to win an arbitration case on Thursday to gain free agency. The Management Council contended that a 110 day holdout, and the fact he appeared in just eight games in '99, precluded him from fulfilling the terms of the final season of his contract. The NFL Players Association countered that the clause on which the league based its grievance was not pertinent to Galloway's circumstances, and the union prevailed.

When arbitrator Nicholas Zumas ruled in favor of Galloway, the Seahawks designated him as a "franchise" free agent with the purpose of temporarily retaining his rights so they could trade him. Under normal circumstances, a team that signs a "franchise" free agent must forfeit a pair of first-round draft choices as compensation. But the Cowboys and Seahawks negotiated to get the deal done for less than that. Dallas will part with its No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, the 19th selection overall, as part of a package expected to include lower draft choices as well.

The Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens all demonstrated interest in dealing for Galloway, but SportsLine learned that the Seahawks granted permission to talk to him only to the Cowboys. If the trade with the Cowboys had fallen apart, the Redskins were likely to renew their pursuit of Galloway. The Redskins courted him during his holdout and made Seattle a trade proposal then, which was rejected.

One of the fastest receivers in the NFL, and a player who once reportedly ran a 4.19-second time in the 40-yard dash for Seattle coaches, Galloway has 283 career catches for 4,457 yards and 37 touchdowns. That includes 22 receptions for 335 yards and one touchdown in 1999 when he was active for only eight games. Galloway, 28, also is a feared punt returner. The Cowboys ranked No. 24 in pass offense for 1999 and needed a proven receiver to pair with Raghib Ismail.