Bill Parcells was general manager of the New York Jets when he took John Abraham in the first round of the 2000 draft. He saw the perfect hybrid player for the Jets' 3-4 scheme. Abraham had the size to hold up against the run and the speed to get after the quarterback.
Seven seasons later, Parcells still sees the same thing. But injuries have slowed Abraham in his first season in Atlanta. Groin and abdominal injuries have forced him to miss eight games, but he is second on the team with four sacks.
The job of slowing Abraham falls on Flozell Adams. His season got off to a slow start because he was coming off major knee surgery, and a calf injury limited his preseason work. In recent weeks, however, Adams has done well against speedy players such as Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney and the Giants' Osi Umenyiora.
"But this guy [Abraham] has more speed than some of those guys we've been playing," Parcells said.
Edge: Adams
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
