Gowin will receive a three-year contract worth $2.25 million and the deal includes a signing bonus of $600,000. Because the former North Texas star was a restricted free agent, the Cowboys had seven days to decide whether to match the offer sheet or allow Gowin to relocate to the Saints. It took owner Jerry Jones less than two days to make the decision.

Dallas will not be awarded any draft pick compensation since Gowin entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1997. The Cowboys retained a right of first refusal to Gowin by making him the minimum qualifying offer of $472,000 back in February.

Gowin, 25, has punted in every game for the Cowboys the last three seasons and also handled the club's kickoff duties as well. He has 244 career punts, with a gross average of 42.8 yards and a 35.7-yard net average. A solid directional and hang time punter, Gowin has averaged 27 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line for his career.

The departure of Gowin means the Dallas kicking game will have to be completely revamped from the one that began the 1999 season. Dallas cut former placement specialist Richie Cunningham midway through the '99 campaign and signed longtime veteran Eddie Murray. He is currently an unrestricted free agent and there appears to be no interest in re-signing him. Dallas has been notorious in recent years for paying its kickers and punters only minimum salaries.

The New Orleans punter last season was 13-year veteran Tommy Barnhardt, who averaged 39.8 yards gross and 35.1 yards net in '99.