Franchise tag is put on Abraham

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Defensive end John Abraham, who played at South Carolina, was designated the New York Jets' franchise player Friday with a one-year deal worth $6.7 million.

Abraham was second on the Jets with 9 sacks last season despite missing the team's final four games with a knee injury. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, although the injury kept him out of the game.

The franchise tag, the average of the salary for the NFL's top five defensive ends, allows the Jets to get two first-round draft choices for Abraham if he signs with another team. They also could negotiate a long-term deal with him or trade him - some reports have Minnesota interested in obtaining Abraham for wide receiver Randy Moss, who is on the market.

The 6-foot-4, 256-pound Abraham was a first-round draft choice in 2000 and has 43 sacks in 57 games since his rookie year. However, injuries have caused him to miss 13 games over the past two seasons.

CAMPO ONBOARD: The Jaguars hired Dave Campo has been hired as the team's new assistant head coach and secondary coach.

Campo, who was head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for three years before serving the past two years as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, had agreed to take the job in January, but wanted to wait until he was fired by the Browns' new head coach, Romeo Crennel, before taking the Jaguars' position.

BROWNS ADD TWO: Todd Grantham, who spent the past three seasons coaching Houston's defensive linemen, was hired as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel also added Dave Atkins to his staff as running backs coach. Atkins was with New Orleans the past five seasons.

Romeo Crennel: New Cleveland head coach hired two new assistants for his staff.