Ever the huckster owner Jerry Jones made unrestricted free agent Kevin Hardy a sales pitch he couldn't resist.

	Hardy

In return, the veteran linebacker made a commitment to join a Dallas Cowboys defense that played surprisingly well in 2001 and continues to add key components.

One of the top players still available in the unrestricted pool, Hardy late Saturday night reached agreement on a contract with the Cowboys, a team for whom he said he always wanted to play.

The former Jacksonville Jaguars star conceded that part of his decision was the "good feel" that he had for Jones, who recruited him hard.

"There's a history here," Hardy said from Dallas, where he flew Saturday for a second round of interviews with the Cowboys and, more important, substantive contract negotiations. "They know about winning football and that's something I think I know about, too. This is a team that's on its way back, Jerry stressed, and I know I can help them get there. It's a good move for both of us."

Hardy, 28, will sign what is essentially a one-year contract and the Cowboys have an option to add four more seasons by making a lucrative bonus payment next spring. If they don't exercise the option, Hardy will be eligible once again for unrestricted free agency.

Financial details of the contract were not immediately available. But the deal is believed to be worth between $1.5 million-$2 million for the 2002 season.

The Cowboys will officially announce the addition of Hardy at a Sunday press conference.

ESPN.com has learned that Hardy was originally scheduled to fly to New Orleans on Saturday to visit with Saints officials. But he and agent Ethan Lock apparently determined the Saints were not as serious as the Cowboys about acquiring the former first-round draft choice and canceled that visit to pursue the Dallas deal. Hardy had become a free agent this spring by voiding the last two seasons of a three-year deal he signed with the Jaguars last spring.

In Dallas, he will become a major component in a Cowboys defense that statistically ranked No. 4 in the league in 2001. The team has added defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and also cornerback Bryant Westbrook in free agency, and figures to draft a defensive player with the sixth overall pick in next weekend's lottery.

"There were some good people here," said Hardy, "and now there is one more."

Hardy is coming off a knee injury that limited him to a career-low nine appearances in 2001 and probably will not be full strength until summer training camp. Despite the truncated campaign, he still posted 71 tackles and 5 ½ sacks last season.

Although he has played both the strongside and weakside spots during his Jaguars tenure, Hardy will line up at the latter for the Cowboys. That is his preference, since it will afford his chances to rush the quarterback.

The second overall player selected in the 1996 draft, Hardy has appeared in 86 games and started 83 of them. He has 509 tackles, 28 ½ sacks, five interceptions and 26 passes defensed.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.