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That season-ending injury is now the concern of the Jaguars staff, fellow teammates and fans who are hopeful that Kampman can be the answer to the team's woeful sack production last season. That was when the Jaguars recorded just 14 total team sacks, the fewest the league and the fifth lowest mark in NFL history.

That low total may have turned into a Jaguars selling point as Kampman indicated he did his homework before deciding which team he would continue his career with.

"I did a lot of research about all the different teams that needed defensive ends," he said. "It (Jacksonville) was one team that needed a defensive end. When the offer came to come down for a visit, (I) wanted to see what Jacksonville was all about. Over time, through the interview process, it grew on us.

"We said this (Jacksonville) is definitely something we could see ourselves fitting in."

Kampman, a 6-foot-4, 262-pound end who will enter his ninth NFL season, was lured away from the Green Bay Packers where he spent eight seasons. He started 104 of the 112 games he played in and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2006 and '07. In 2006 he led the NFC and ranked second in the NFL with a career-high 15.5 sacks along with a career-high 113 tackles.

It's isn't often that one player can record more sacks in a single season than an entire team, but that' the case here if you compare Kampman's total from 2006 against what the Jaguars did a year ago. And that's why the team went after him, and went after him hard when free agency opened.

They invited him to town on a Friday and kept him involved with discussions through the early hours on Sunday before the two sides agreed to a $26 million contract that calls for $11 million up front. Based on what Kampman did prior to last year, he's worth the money the Jaguars invested in him.

Based on the fact he's coming off his worse season (3.5 sacks in nine games) since 2003, the fact that he's now 30 and that he's still recuperating from the surgery, signing Kampman to such a lucrative contract could be termed a gamble. But that's not how the former University of Iowa standout is looking at things.

"My knee is great; I'm very encouraged by it," he said. "It was a clean injury. Sitting in the MRI tube before we knew, looking at the MRI after it happened, I was very encouraged with how things are progressing.

"I can't tell you how good it's been. I'm excited about getting back and being 100 percent. It has come along very well."

Of those who voted by phone, 55 percent said no to drafting Tebow, while 45 percent felt the Jaguars should select the left-handed quarterback.

When questioned afterwards, Smith dodged providing fans an answer as to if the Jaguars would select Tebow.

"I'm not going to comment on where he's going to be drafted," Smith said.

Tebow has said, "It would be an honor and a privilege to play for the Jaguars. I've always been a big fan in following them."

--One of the factors that may have helped steer Aaron Kampman to Jacksonville was his friendship with Jaguars center Brad Meester. The two players were high school teammates growing up in Iowa, and Meester's wife, Jamie, is Kampman's second cousin.

"Brad and Jamie are great people and to be able to come down here and ask honest questions and have great answers and to see that reinforced with our visit here, it made things continue to tilt (towards signing). I talked to my agent Neil Cornrich and said this was a good fit and let's see if we can make this happen.

"They (Brad and Jamie Meester) are a big asset for us, especially for my wife. We have been driving around looking at schools and that will be helpful for us in the transition."

Brad Meester had high praise for the Jaguars newest acquisition.

"What makes him special is the type of character he brings and his tremendous work ethic," said the Jaguars veteran center.

--The Jaguars continue to make progress in their drive to sell tickets in hopes of avoiding the embarrassment of having seven of eight home regular season games and both preseason games blacked out last year. A Thursday night game against Indianapolis late in the season was the only home game shown on local television last season.

The latest numbers show that the Jaguars have sold 5,000 new season tickets this year compared to 400 at this time last year. In addition, about 35 percent of the 27,000 season tickets have been renewed, though Tim Connolly, who runs the team's ticketing department, said most of the fans renew at the last minute. The renewal deadline is March 19.

The team continues to schedule events on a monthly basis, inviting former season ticket holders and potential future ticket buyers to attend and greet team owner Wayne Weaver, coach Jack Del Rio and various Jaguars players who have been in attendance at different events.

--While Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard has been the subject of some off-season criticism, there seems to be a good mixture of fans who are split on whether Garrard is the answer to the Jaguars needs at quarterback. Since the 2007 season when he posted a 102.2 quarterback rating, third best in the NFL that year, Garrard has tailed off to 81.7 and 83.5 ratings the past two seasons.

The good news for Garrard is that he appears to have general manager Gene Smith in his corner.

"He's persevered through a lot here," Smith said of his starting quarterback. "He has a physical skill set that doesn't limit the play-calling. He's very durable, has tremendous toughness and is a top competitor out on the football field. The best is yet to come."

But that doesn't mean that Smith is against selecting a quarterback in the upcoming draft, if there is one to the Jaguars liking and it meets their value selection with the pick.

"I would always look for a quarterback we could develop, but I'm not going to force it. Is it a position we'll look at in the draft? Yes, it is."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's the first significant injury of his playing career and he's ahead of schedule rehab-wise and he hasn't had any setbacks. It's a risk-reward situation. We felt the calculated risk was worth taking." --Jaguars general manager Gene Smith talking about newly signed free agent Aaron Kampman, who is coming off ACL surgery in December.

In addition, the Jaguars have not had much luck in signing their high picks. They've had the No. 8 pick in both of the last two drafts and both times, the player selected has been a holdout for more than two weeks, causing them to fall behind in their NFL preparation and not be effective until late in the season.

OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Jaguars' two moves in free agency thus far should produce immediate results. DE Aaron Kampman is a proven veteran with two years as a Pro Bowl player on his nine-year resume. With the Jaguars needing plenty of help at the end spots, Kampman will likely come in, and if fully recovered from his ACL surgery, should step into the starting lineup from Day 1.

The other acquisition, special teams standout Kassim Osgood, will help with special teams and could even contribute as a receiver. The Jaguars receiving corps is young and not the most talented group which could open a door for Osgood who has good size (6-5, 220 pounds).

The Jaguars have targeted various spots on defense as needing the most help. Kampman will help at the end spot, but the Jaguars will continue to explore for additional help through free agency or the draft at this position. Two other defensive needs exist at linebacker and safety spots. The team wants a young, fast defender with good size at the linebacker spot, a combination that is hard to find.

Safety was a team liability last year and if the Jaguars could, they would grab Eric Berry of Tennessee with their pick at No. 10. Otherwise, they may look for that starter with their third round pick.

MEDICAL WATCH: Aaron Kampman now becomes part of the team's medical watch. The Jaguars tested him thoroughly before signing the free agent who had ACL surgery the first week in December. Kampman says he is well ahead of the normal recovery time and will be ready to participate in training camp this fall.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--DE Reggie Hayward took a pay cut to return and then suffered a shoulder injury in the opener and missed the rest of the season. Since they're desperate for pass rushers, he could return if he shows he has something left.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--CB Kennard Cox (not tendered as ERFA).

--DT Greg Peterson (not tendered at RFA) played in only two games last year.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--*LB Clint Ingram (tendered at $1.176M with third-round pick as compensation) started last year before he went on injured reserve in December with a shoulder injury, but he needs to step up his game.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--CB Tyron Brackenridge started five games last year when Rashean Mathis was injured.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--DL Atiyyah Ellison: Potential RFA; $1.176M/1 yr.

--OG Kynan Forney: Potential UFA; $755,000/1 yr.

--*DT Montavious Stanley: Potential RFA; terms unknown.

--TE Ernest Wilford: Potential UFA; $630,000/1 yr.

--*WR Troy Williamson: Potential RFA; $800,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--DE Aaron Kampman: UFA Packers; $24M/4 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

--WR Kassim Osgood: UFA Chargers; $6.675M/3 yrs, $2.975M guaranteed.

PLAYERS LOST

--WR Torry Holt (released).

--DT Rob Meier (released).

--OT Tra Thomas (released).