NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

(AP) The Colts signed Adam Vinatieri, the clutch kicker Indianapolis needed. The Jets traded defensive end John Abraham to Atlanta, giving him the escape from New York he wanted.

And the Bears picked up Brian Griese, possibly stirring a quarterback controversy Chicago might neither need nor want.

Indianapolis agreed in principle to a deal with Vinatieri on Tuesday night, not only addressing Mike Vanderjagt's tendency to miss only at the worst possible times, but signing away a key player from rival New England.

Vinatieri twice hit winning kicks in the Super Bowl for the Patriots. He replaces Vanderjagt, a former Pro Bowl kicker with the NFL's highest career accuracy rate who twice has missed critical field goals in the playoffs for Indy.

Terms of Vinatieri's deal weren't available and messages left with the Patriots and agents for Vinatieri weren't immediately returned. The Patriots allowed Vinatieri to test free agency rather than put a franchise designation on him, which would have cost the team $3 million next season.

Meanwhile, Abraham finally got what he wanted when the Jets traded him to the Atlanta Falcons in a three-way deal with Denver.

In other moves, former Cowboys receiver Keyshawn Johnson visited with the New York Giants; Chicago added depth at quarterback by signing Griese; Seattle agreed on the parameters of a new contract with San Francisco 49ers free-agent linebacker Julian Peterson and Eric Moulds got permission from the Bills to seek a trade.

Abraham was swapped for a first-round pick after the Broncos got involved. Denver and Atlanta swapped No. 1 picks, with the Broncos getting the 15th overall selection and the Falcons getting pick 29. Then the Falcons sent that pick to the Jets in exchange for Abraham, the player's agent told The Associated Press.

Atlanta also got middleround picks in 2006 and 2007 from Denver.

The Jets had placed the franchise tag on Abraham for the second straight year. Both sides made it clear they wanted to part ways.

Now that he is with the Falcons, Abraham agreed to a sixyear, $45 million deal, with about $18 million guaranteed. He will get $15.5 million in reporting and signing bonuses this year.

"He's elated," said Abraham's agent, Rich Rosa. "He's very happy, he's got the long-term deal he's always wanted."

Johnson was released by the Cowboys a week ago, just hours after the Philadelphia Eagles released Terrell Owens. Dallas signed Owens to a three-year, $25 million contract last Saturday.

The 33-year-old Johnson, the overall No. 1 pick in the draft in 1996, caught 305 passes for 31 touchdowns in four years with the New York Jets but often voiced his displeasure at not being a bigger part of the offense.

He spent four years with Tampa Bay and was acquired by Dallas in a trade for Joey Galloway after the Bucs deactivated him for the final four games of the 2003 season. Johnson led the Cowboys in receptions last season with 71 for 839 yards and six touchdowns.

The Bears added depth at quarterback by signing Brian Griese, though he could be a potential challenger to starter Rex Grossman. The 31-year-old Griese, who led Tampa Bay to a 5-1 start last year before a season ending knee injury, signed for five years with Chicago.

Peterson's agent, Kevin Poston, said the contract with Seattle is for $54 million over seven years and includes $18.5 million guaranteed. The deal is worth $10 million in the first year, $18.4 million in the second and $23.5 million in the third.

Peterson finally got the contract he has been seeking for three years, since he became an All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl player with a career-high seven sacks, 95 tackles and two interceptions in 2003. The 49ers kept him from free agency by using their franchise-player designation in 2004 and 2005.

In 2004, he tore his left Achilles' tendon and missed the final 11 games. He returned last season and was less productive.

Moulds had asked for his release after repeatedly rejecting the team's demands to take a pay cut.

Several teams already have expressed interest in Moulds since the Bills granted their permission Friday, Johnson said. Moulds, a 10-year veteran and the Bills' senior player, has two years left on his contract, but was scheduled to count about $10.8 million against the salary cap next year.

In other moves Tuesday:

-The Arizona Cardinals matched the offer sheet that guard Reggie Wells signed with the Bills, a five-year $17.6 million deal that includes $5 million in signing bonuses. The 6foot-4, 320-pound Wells started nine games at left guard last season before breaking his left ankle on Nov. 13.