SportsLine has learned that McNeil, 29, a seven-year veteran who started 14 games in 1999 for the Cleveland Browns, has reached a contract agreement with the Cowboys. His addition essentially concludes Sanders' five-year tenure with the Cowboys.

The negotiations between the Cowboys and agent Eugene Parker, who represents Sanders and McNeil, heated up Wednesday and were concluded Thursday.

The Cowboys, who hope to add two cornerbacks in free agency or the draft, opted for McNeil over former New York Giants starter Phillippi Sparks, another unrestricted free agent who visited with team officials this week.

For now at least, McNeil will assume the right cornerback job left vacant by Sanders' imminent departure.

His nomadic nature aside, McNeil is regarded as a productive cornerback and a solid coverage player. As recently as 1997, when he was playing for the St. Louis Rams, he led the league with nine interceptions. But his prohibitive salary demands and inflated perception of his market value have haunted McNeil in recent seasons and led to him firing former agent Brian Ransom.

McNeil rejected a lucrative contract offer from the Rams in 1998 and settled for a one-year deal in which he sacrificed more than $10 million.

He signed another one-year deal with Cleveland last season and, after beginning the season as a "nickel" defender, played his way into the lineup by mid-September.

The former University of Miami star began his NFL career as a second-round choice of Detroit in the 1993 draft. Looking back, it should have been an omen when his contract negotiations as a rookie lingered into late training camp. After four seasons with the Lions, he signed with St. Louis as an unrestricted free agent in 1997.

For his career, McNeil has played in 110 games, starting 89. He has 488 tackles, 20 interceptions, 80 passes defensed and one sack.