TAMPA - Upon hearing the news he might be traded to the Bucs, Joey Galloway did not make a run for the border. He already was in Mexico vacationing when Jon Gruden called Wednesday to sell the Cowboys receiver on Tampa Bay.
Assuming Gruden was successful, Bucs general manager Bruce Allen will begin negotiating a contract for Galloway with agent Leigh Steinberg today.
It is the first step in what the Bucs hope will result in a blockbuster trade of estranged receiver Keyshawn Johnson to the Cowboys for Galloway.
While Johnson had been considering a possible reunion with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells since being deactivated by the Bucs for the final six games of the 2003 season, Galloway was stunned by news of the proposed trade.
The deal is contingent on both players agreeing to restructure and reduce their $6-million per year contracts.
Steinberg said before he could talk contract with the Bucs, Gruden and Galloway needed to discuss how Tampa Bay intended to utilize him.
"(Wednesday) Joey talked to Coach Gruden," Steinberg said. "That's the first step of completing the deal ... but Bruce and I didn't want to get into contract talks until Coach Gruden and Joey had a meeting of the minds."
The discussion went well, according to Steinberg.
"(The discussion) was very positive and upbeat. Joey was impressed by Coach Gruden's offensive mind."
If Gruden is successful, Allen will attempt to restructure Galloway's contract, which includes a $6.31-million base salary in 2004.
Johnson said agent Jerome Stanley had not spoken with the Cowboys since Tuesday.
The 5-foot-11 Galloway would provide speed to the Bucs receiving corps. But he has never been known for his precise route running and there are not a lot of ways to get Galloway the ball when he only excels at getting downfield.
Galloway averaged 65 catches for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four seasons with Seattle. But after being traded for two first-round picks, his career in Dallas has been marred by injuries and ineffective quarterbacks.
Last season, Galloway caught 34 passes for 672 yards and two touchdowns. He went without a catch in three games. Unlike Johnson, Galloway never wanted to leave his team.
"This has been a blessing for me," Galloway told the Dallas Morning News early last season. "It's a great team and a great organization. I would love to be a Cowboy when I retire."
- Information from the Dallas Morning News was used in this report.
