The Jacksonville Jaguars sure hope it doesn't take Matt Jones extra time to learn his new position.

After Jones missed the opening of training camp by holding out — he also missed most of minicamp and several summer workouts because of a sprained left hamstring — the former Arkansas quarterback signed a five-year, $8.45 million contract yesterday.

The deal could be worth up to $11.15 million with incentives and he will make $6.3 million his first year.

"I'm definitely excited," Jones said. "I'm glad that everything got worked out and that I haven't missed too much. I'm ready to get out there and start making plays and helping the team win."

The 21st overall pick, Jones is switching to tight end. He finished his Razorbacks career as the Southeastern Conference's top rushing quarterback, gaining 2,535 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns in 46 games.

"It's not that so much time has been missed that he's really behind," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We'll get him caught up to speed, and it should be something that's in our rear-view mirror very quickly."

PATRIOTS

THREE-TIME PRO BOWL DL SEYMOUR GETS DEAL

Defensive lineman Richard Seymour, a three-time Pro Bowl player and key to the Patriots' defense, reached a new deal with New England. He was entering the fifth year of a six-year, $14.3 million contract he signed as a rookie in 2001. He has been on three Super Bowl championship teams with the Patriots.

With the retirement of linebacker Ted Johnson and with Tedy Bruschi sitting out the season after suffering a stroke, getting Seymour in camp was essential.

EAGLES

MCDOUGLE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

Philadelphia defensive end Jerome McDougle was discharged from a South Florida hospital yesterday, while police announced they had arrested three men in connection to his shooting.

Police arrested Birmmengham Guirand, 19, yesterday, Leonard Jenkins, 15, on Friday and Lance Grant, 17, on Sunday. All were charged with robbery and attempted felony murder, police said.

Another suspect, 17-year-old Charles Edward James, was still at large. All are from the Miami area, police said. Jenkins and Grant were being held at the Miami-Dade Juvenile Detention Center.

McDougle, 27, was shot late Thursday after three armed robbers approached him while he was in his silver Mercedes coupe in southwest Miami. A South Florida native, McDougle had been visiting relatives in South Florida.

"His prognosis is good," said Dr. David V. Shatz, one of McDougle's physicians. "He will recover fully and be able to go back to training in about six weeks."

RECEIVER OWENS MEETS WITH TEAM BRASS

Wide receiver Terrell Owens participated in the opening practice of training camp for Philadelphia yesterday at Lehigh University at Bethlehem, Pa., hours after he and his agent met with club officials, and neither side budged in the contract dispute in which they've been embroiled for months.

Owens and agent Drew Rosenhaus met with Eagles coach Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner. The Eagles continue to refuse to renegotiate Owens' seven-year, $48.97 million contract after one season. Owens reported to training camp Monday evening after months of threatening to hold out if he didn't get a new deal.

"We understand his feelings," Banner said. "We're glad he's here. We're glad he's committed to focusing on football and trying to have a good year. Our position always has been that he has a contract and he needs to honor it, and that continues to be our position."

Reid stopped short of declaring the meeting a step forward in the process of repairing the relationship between Owens and the team.

"We'll see how things go forward from here," Reid said. "Time will tell."

Owens refused to speak to reporters.

REDSKINS

NO. 9 PICK ROGERS SIGNS FIVE-YEAR DEAL

Carlos Rogers, the No. 9 overall pick in April's draft, agreed to a five-year, $17.45 million deal just as No. 25 overall selection Jason Campbell reported to camp and signed a five-year, $7.5 million contract.

Campbell's contract includes $5.3 million in bonus money and could be worth nearly $24 million if all incentives are met.

Rogers, the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back in 2004, severely sprained and bruised his ankle while working out at Auburn in June and is expected to be limited in the first few days of camp.

ELSEWHERE

Giants: Defensive back Corey Webster, a second-round draft pick, signed yesterday. He was the team's last unsigned player. Webster is expected to contribute as a nickel back and possibly challenge incumbent cornerback Will Allen for a starting slot. Terms of the deal were not released.

Colts: Center Jeff Saturday missed practice yesterday because of a strained right hamstring and most likely will not play this weekend in the exhibition opener in Japan against Atlanta. Defensive lineman Raheem Brock, also a starter, could be out with a hip flexor. At least five players, including two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, will not travel to Japan. Freeney has not yet practiced after having offseason shoulder surgery and is on the team's physically unable to perform list.

Dolphins: Miami signed center Alonzo Ephraim yesterday, one day after center Wade Smith sustained a broken right forearm. To make room on the roster for Ephraim, the Dolphins waived linebacker Derek Curry, signed in April as an undrafted free agent.