The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed defensive end Tony Brackens to a new long-term contract. Length and terms of the deal are undisclosed.

Brackens had signed a designated one-year franchise tender offer of $4.253 million on August 11, ending a holdout that had kept him out of the first three weeks of training camp. He had been designated as the team's franchise player on February 10, the first player ever tagged as a franchise player by the Jaguars.

With the signing of Brackens, the Jaguars retain their franchise tag for next year.

"I am glad to get it over with. It was kind of stressful, but I had a feeling it would get done," said Brackens. "It's a good deal. I think both sides are satisfied. Now I can get ready, get everything out of my mind and go out and do my part and hopefully bring a championship to Jacksonville."

Brackens played 10 plays in Thursday night's preseason game vs. Atlanta, his first action of the preseason. He made five tackles (two solo). "I was a little winded, but it is a different speed when you get into game situations," he said. "I will get a little more extensive practice this week. I think I will be ready for the coming week (the Jaguars open the 2000 season on September 3 at Cleveland). I need to go out and do the things I've always done - make my plays and stay solid in our defense. I need to stay in the scheme of things and focus on my assignments, and the defense will perform like it has in the past."