HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- John Abraham provided one critical answer
when he reported to the Jets on Monday. Now here come more
questions.
Is he in shape? Is he upset he did not get the long-term deal he
wanted? Will he stay healthy for an entire season?
All that remains to be seen. The biggest question was answered
when he finally signed his one-year, $6.67 million franchise tender
after missing all of training camp.
The Pro Bowl player refused to sign the tender because he wanted
a long-term deal, and was forced to miss offseason training
activities and camp. Abraham does not have the commitment he
wanted, nor does he have assurances he won't be franchised again at
the end of the season.
But he felt the time was right to return to his teammates. No
grudges, no hard feelings.
"It was a business decision," Abraham said. "We just felt
this was the right time for me to come in. There's no love lost,
there's no harm. I'm coming in with an open mind and ready to play,
no grudges at all."
How quickly Abraham can get into game shape is the biggest
worry, no matter how hard he worked on his own at home in South
Carolina.
Abraham will have a physical Tuesday and begin practicing with
the team immediately. He won't play in the exhibition finale
Thursday at Philadelphia, but is expected to see spot duty in the
season opener at Kansas City on Sept. 11.
Because he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career,
the Jets have been hesitant to make a long-term commitment to
Abraham. He missed the final four regular-season games and two
playoff games last season after spraining his right knee. He says
his knee feels fine.
"I'm in shape, I've been working since the season was over
with," Abraham said. "Obviously I had an injury last year, I had
to rehab my knee and work on my body. It's been a long offseason,
but it's been a very positive offseason. Hopefully I can stay
healthy for 16 games. That's my only problem in the NFL so far.
When I'm on the field, I've been a force."
In five seasons, Abraham has made the Pro Bowl three times. He
has 43 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and 261 tackles, despite all the
injuries. In 2000, he was limited to six games because of a sports
hernia. In 2003, he missed time with a groin injury.
The only season in which he played all 16 games was 2002, when
he had 10 sacks and got his second Pro Bowl nod. Abraham said he
put on 10 pounds in the offseason, hoping that will help him stay
healthy.
But coach Herman Edwards knows he will have to take things
slowly with his star player.
"I'm hoping I'm smart enough to realize that when players come
late that you have to handle them a certain way," Edwards said.
"Hopefully, I've been here long enough where I understand where
he's at, sit down and visit with him, say this is the plan for you
and work at it that way."
As for the prospects of a long-term contract, general manager
Terry Bradway reiterated the team wants to work out a deal with
Abraham.
"I can't give you a timetable," Bradway said. "I'm not going
to answer questions during the season. We've had great
communication in the past, and we'll continue to have it in the
future. Our intention all along has been to have John here for a
long time. We'll continue to work toward that end."
Abraham also has issues with the way he has been portrayed. In
2003, he was arrested for drunken driving. Last season, he said he
had no problem with being franchised, then clarified his comments
Monday, saying, he was "ignorant" on how the tag worked.
Abraham also was painted as someone who did not want to play
through injuries because of his impending contract situation.
Edwards said Abraham would be able to play against San Diego in the
first week of the playoffs, but Abraham decided against it a few
days later, saying he had to "weigh his options."
"I have no more challenges with the media. I've been through
everything I possibly could," he said. "I've been called an
alcoholic, I've been called a drunk, I've been called a coward for
not playing because I was hurt. I've been called a guy who gets
injured all the time. Anything possible pretty much that could be
said bad about me has been said."