Heading into the 2004 season, Toby Gowin, a veteran punter who had played the previous seven seasons with Dallas and New Orleans, had choices as a free agent.

And he chose to sign with a team which had three different punters the previous three seasons, becoming the Jets' fourth in four.

"I had a couple of other teams that were interested," said Gowin, who began his career with the Cowboys in 1997 as an undrafted free agent. "I visited with the Jets and had some familiarity there. I had played with (kicker) Doug Brien in New Orleans and then I also knew John Lott, who at the time was the strength coach. He was briefly at (the University of) North Texas when I was there.

"And really, I just think the team at that time had a lot of quality guys like Curtis Martin. High character, a good a

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