National briefs

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Jets were sold to Robert Wood Johnson IV, heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire, for nearly $635 million, pending league approval.

The bid was unanimously approved by the league's finance committee. An owners meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday; 24 of 31 NFL owners must approve the sale.

The estate of late owner Leon Hess selected Johnson's bid over a similar one from Cablevision chairman Charles Dolan.

The price is the third-highest for an NFL club, following $800 million for the Washington Redskins and $700 million for the expansion Houston team.

Kearse honored

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jevon Kearse, the record-setting rookie end of the Tennessee Titans, ran away with voting for The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Kearse, selected 16th overall in last year's draft, had a rookie-record and AFC-leading 14 1/2 sacks. He also had 18 pressures and 10 forced fumbles.

Washington cornerback Champ Bailey received one vote.

The Titans surged from 8-8 to 13-3 and the best wild-card record in NFL history.

Redskin fined

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins guard Tre Johnson was fined $50,000 and suspended for the first game of next season for fighting and hitting an official in Saturday's game.

Fifteen Redskins and eight Detroit Lions were fined an NFL-record $154,000 for the melee in Washington's 27-13 first-round playoff victory.

Tyson fight in jeopardy

LONDON (AP) -- Mike Tyson might not be allowed into England for his Jan. 29 fight against Julius Francis because of his 1992 rape conviction.

British immigration officials said anyone convicted of a crime carrying a jail term of at least a year could be barred from the country.

The former heavyweight champion served half his six-year sentence. The only way he could enter the country would be on ''compassionate grounds,'' a Home Office spokesman said.

AmericaOne clinches first finals spot

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- AmericaOne, the first yacht to clinch a spot in the America's Cup challenger finals, must decide Thursday whether to race Stars and Stripes, a decision that could affect whether Dennis Conner gets another crack at the sport's greatest prize.

AmericaOne became the first to qualify for the challenger finals by beating Nippon today. The win for the Paul Cayard-skippered syndicate was its eighth of the semifinals.