He started 33 of the 34 games he played at Maine and was the team's Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection as a junior in 2003.

McGowan missed the first seven games of the 2006 season after beginning the year on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list.

He recorded two special teams tackles in his first game back against the Miami Dolphins before being placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury the next day.

In 2007, McGowan replaced starting safety Adam Archuleta for most of the season and finished the year with 80 tackles and 2 interceptions.

So, I think he's a versatile player that brings a good competitive attitude and toughness to our team and to that position along with several other guys we have there, but that's something that we liked, and he's shown all that.

He played as a reserve to Sanders in the final four games of the season and the Patriots' playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.