Fred Jackson - Pro Football Rumors

Patriots Notes: Deflategate, Brady, F. Jackson

September 8th, 2015 at 11:49am CST by Luke Adams

Anyone who expected the Patriots-related drama to come to an end when Judge Richard Berman ruled in favor of Tom Brady and the NFLPA last week received a rude awakening today, as Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham of ESPN’s Outside the Lines published an extensive report on Deflategate and Spygate. The piece, which is worth reading, suggests that Roger Goodell and the NFL may have reacted so aggressively to the Deflategate allegations to compensate for what many team owners felt was an undercooked Spygate investigation.

In response to the OTL report, the Patriots issued a strongly-worded statement denying the additional Spygate allegations that were part of the story, as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets.

“This type of reporting over the past seven years has led to additional unfounded, unwarranted and, quite frankly, unbelievable allegations by former players, coaches and executives,” the Patriots’ statement read, in part. “None of which have ever been substantiated, but many of which continue to be propagated.”

Here’s more on the Pats:

Brady made an appearance on WEEI in Boston today, admitting that “it’s been a tough, challenging several months.” While Brady didn’t drop any bombshells, he fielded a number of questions about Deflategate over the course of the conversation. The audio transcript of his comments can be found right here.
In the wake of the NFL’s court loss last week, one report indicated that team owners would discuss changing Goodell’s role in the player disciplinary process. Appearing on Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio today, Goodell acknowledged that he’s “very open” to changing his role (link via The Associated Press). However, he’s still reluctant to give up final say.
Within an hour of being released by the Bills, Fred Jackson received a call from the Patriots, as the veteran running back tells Tim Graham of The Buffalo News. Jackson also got a call from the Seahawks in that first hour, and ultimately signed with Seattle.

Seahawks Sign Fred Jackson

September 7th, 2015 at 1:13pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

MONDAY, 1:13pm: The Seahawks have officially signed Jackson, according to the club’s website.

FRIDAY, 6:29pm: The Seahawks and free agent running back Fred Jackson have agreed to a one-year contract, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Financial details of the deal are not yet available.

Jackson, whom the Bills released earlier this week, visited the Seahawks on Tuesday. They were just one of several playoff teams that expressed interest in Jackson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Seahawks head coach Pete Caroll was excited about Jackson after his visit with the team, saying, “I really, really like the kid. We all did,” per The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta.

Despite being the oldest running back in the NFL, Jackson, 34, was in high demand after a terrific eight-year tenure in Buffalo. He totaled 5,646 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground as a Bill after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Coe College. In addition to his prowess as a runner, Jackson was also a quality blocking back and receiving option for the Bills, catching 322 passes (including a career-best 66 last year) and seven more scores.

In Seattle, Jackson will reunite with ex-Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch to once again form a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield and further beef up the league’s reigning top-ranked ground attack. The two played together in Buffalo from 2007-10 and combined for three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported earlier this week that the friendship between Jackson and Lynch was the primary reason for the interest Jackson and the Seahawks had in each other.

Jackson is expected to supplant Robert Turbin, who’s currently felled by a high ankle sprain, and Christine Michael as the Seahawks’ primary backup to Lynch.

Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Seahawks Confirm McCray Trade, Set Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Seahawks have confirmed one of their two recently-reported acquisitions, announcing that they’ve traded for safety Kelcie McCray, sending a fifth-round draft pick to the Chiefs in the swap, as we heard earlier. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the deal for McCray is a public sign of what the team has privately told Kam Chancellor: Seattle isn’t willing to negotiate with him.

We’re still awaiting official word on Seattle’s reported agreement with running back Fred Jackson, so an additional cut will be required when that move is finalized. For now though, the Seahawks are down to 53 players. Via a team release, here’s how they got there:

Released:

CB Will Blackmon
TE Anthony McCoy

Waived:

LB Tyrell Adams
TE Rashaun Allen
QB R.J. Archer
DE Obum Gwacham
S Keenan Lambert
S Ronald Martin
DT T.Y. McGill
CB Douglas McNeil
OL Keavon Milton
S Ryan Murphy
OL Will Pericak
LB Eric Pinkins
OL Terry Poole
LB Alex Singleton
WR Kevin Smith
RB Rod Smith
DE Julius Warmsley
WR Kasen Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

CB Mohammed Seisay
RB Robert Turbin

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

DT Jesse Williams

AFC Notes: Bills, P. Thomas, Browns, Ajayi

September 4th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

Addressing a report that suggested he left several members of the Bills‘ front office and coaching staff out of the loop when he decided to cut Fred Jackson, general manager Doug Whaley said on Thursday night that he consulted several others before making the move official, writes Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News. According to Whaley, head coach Rex Ryan was with him when he informed Jackson of the decision.

“So he was in there with me when we told him together,” Whaley said. “Talked to the running backs coach (Anthony Lynn). So it wasn’t just me waking up one day and deciding, ‘Hey, I want to do this.'”

Whaley added multiple times that he informed Bills ownership of the move, which the original report didn’t dispute. For his part, Jackson suggested Whaley was behind the decision, adding that the GM “wasn’t honest with me the entire time that I’ve known him.”

Here’s more from across the AFC:

Having turned down a minimum-salary offer from the Texans last month, veteran running back Pierre Thomas is seeking a salary around $1.3MM or $1.4MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. It appears the Texans have moved on from Thomas, though perhaps Houston or another club could revisit the free agent back after Week 1.
According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap and ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter links), the Browns won’t be on the hook for Phil Taylor‘s full $5.477MM salary after all, after releasing the defensive tackle. When he asked for his release, Taylor accepted a three-week injury settlement, which works out to a $966,529 payment.
As the Dolphins prepare to cut down their roster to 53 players, an injury to Jay Ajayi could complicate the team’s plans, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, who says the rookie running back cracked a rib on Thursday. Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post writes that Ajayi is expected to remain on Miami’s active roster.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wonders if the Steelers might part ways with one – or all – of the three players who received restricted free agent tenders from the club earlier this year — Pittsburgh could clear about $3.3MM in cap space by cutting fullback Will Johnson, cornerback Antwon Blake, and safety Robert Golden.

West Notes: F-Jax, Catanzaro, Ward, Injuries

September 4th, 2015 at 8:16am CST by Luke Adams

It should be a busy day around the NFL, since many teams won’t wait until Saturday’s deadline to make their roster cuts down to 53 players. While we wait for clubs to announce roster moves, let’s check in on a few items from out of the league’s two West divisions….

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Fred Jackson‘s visit to Seattle went well, but wouldn’t commit to anything definitive with that situation, leading Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter links) to speculate that the club could be waiting until after Week 1 to sign the veteran running back. Veterans signed before Week 1 have their salaries fully guaranteed when the season gets underway, which isn’t the case for players signed later.
Following a pair of missed extra points by Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro, head coach Bruce Arians gave him a vote of confidence, indicating that Catanzaro’s job isn’t in jeopardy, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com notes: “We’re not going to look for a kicker. He’s our guy, so [we’re] glad it’s a preseason game and he can learn from it.”
Broncos safety T.J. Ward was caught off guard for his one-game suspension for a minor legal run-in that happened over a year ago, telling Troy Renck of the Denver Post, “I just don’t feel the whole process is very fair.” Asked if there’s any more he can do to get the penalty overturned, Ward replied, “I’m going to try, but my last name’s not Brady.” Of course, since the suspension was officially announced, the appeal process has already run its course.
A pair of NFC West players suffered apparent major injuries during Thursday night action. The Seahawks confirmed (via Twitter) that cornerback Mohammed Seisay suffered a dislocated shoulder, while Arians said that Cardinals tight end Gerald Christian has an MCL injury and may have an ACL issue as well, adding that “he’s probably out” (Twitter link via Weinfuss).

Fred Jackson: Bills GM “Wasn’t Honest With Me”

September 2nd, 2015 at 8:59am CST by Luke Adams

Among the first series of roster cuts this week, one of the most surprising moves around the NFL was the Bills’ decision to part ways with running Fred Jackson, who had been a key contributor for the club since 2007. As he tells Bucky Gleason of The Buffalo News, Jackson was shocked by the move, which he called “a tough pill to swallow,” since conversations with GM Doug Whaley had led him to believe he’d have a major role on the team in 2015.

“Doug Whaley was behind it, to my knowledge,” Jackson said. “He wasn’t honest with me the entire time that I’ve known him. I have the utmost respect for the organization. There’s only one person in that organization that I haven’t gotten honesty from, and that was him.”

While head coach Rex Ryan decides who plays on Sundays, making decisions like the one to name Tyrod Taylor the Bills’ starting quarterback, Whaley has the final say on the team’s 53-man roster. And according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter), the GM “went rogue” when it came to Jackson’s release.

As Graham explains (via Twitter), Whaley spoke with Terry and Kim Pegula before he cut Jackson, and the Bills’ owners were surprised, but supported the GM’s call. However, many key people within the football operations department and on the coaching staff didn’t know the move was coming, tweets Graham. It’s not clear if Ryan was among that group.

While Jackson may not be pleased with how his time in Buffalo ended, it appears he won’t have to wait long to find a new NFL home. He didn’t immediately sign with the Seahawks after visiting the team on Tuesday, but Seattle has interest, and so does Baltimore.

Fred Jackson Expected To Sign With Seahawks?

September 1st, 2015 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

2:45pm: Coach Pete Carroll stressed that Jackson’s trip to Seattle was a “visit not a signing,” (via the Seahawks on Twitter). He also told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (on Twitter) that there has been no decision yet on signing Jackson. However, Condotta notes (link) that Robert Turbin has a high ankle sprain, and that could explain Seattle’s interest in FJax.

7:58am: Having hit the open market yesterday, it didn’t take Fred Jackson long to find an interested suitor. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the veteran running back is flying to Seattle this morning to meet with the Seahawks, and both sides expect to work out a deal.

Jackson, who debuted with the Bills in 2007 and had been with the team since then, was released by Buffalo yesterday. Despite being the league’s oldest running back, at age 34, Jackson doesn’t have a ton of mileage on his legs, since he started his career late and split carries with other backs throughout his tenure with the Bills.

Over the course of his eight-year career, Jackson has compiled 5,646 rushing yards and 80 rushing touchdowns on 1,279 carries. He’s also a capable receiver out of the backfield, setting a career high in 2014 with 66 catches. While Jackson was slowed by a hamstring injury earlier in the training camp this year, he looked good in his preseason debut this past weekend, carrying the ball five times for 48 yards.

According to Rapoport (via Twitter), Jackson received interest from numerous playoff teams upon his release. Assuming he finalizes a contract agreement with Seattle though, Jackson will reunite with his old backfield mate Marshawn Lynch, who played in Buffalo himself from 2007 to 2010.

Presumably, Jackson would become Lynch’s primary backup and see action on third downs, if and when he officially signs with Seattle. That would bump Robert Turbin down on the depth chart, and would create some uncertainty regarding the roles for Christine Michael and UDFA rookie Thomas Rawls. Seattle showed it was willing to move a young player for a future draft pick yesterday when the team sent wide receiver Kevin Norwood to the Panthers, so perhaps a running back trade could be explored as well.

Extra Points: Bucs, F. Jackson, Brady, Ridley

September 1st, 2015 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers had a slew of problems on their offensive line last year, and even after addressing the position multiple times in the draft, the club isn’t totally satisfied with its line play. According to Jenna Laine of SportsTalkFlorida.com (via Twitter), the Bucs are looking for interior offensive line help, and are shopping for possible trades. The club could also look to claim a player off waivers or sign a free agent, as more cuts are made this week.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL, as teams reduce their rosters to 75 players:

Fred Jackson appears likely to land with the Seahawks, but the Ravens have also expressed interest in the veteran running back, says Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (via Twitter). According to Carucci, there’s been no indication that the Patriots, Cowboys, or Browns have shown interest in Jackson.
When Judge Richard Berman announces his decision on Tom Brady‘s case this week, he’ll either uphold or vacate the four-game suspension for the Patriots quarterback. However, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains, Berman has a handful of different options available to him when he makes that ruling.
All signs are pointing to Jets running back Stevan Ridley, who is returning from an ACL injury, starting the regular season on the club’s reserve/PUP list, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
David Newton of ESPN.com conducted a Q&A with Panthers GM Dave Gettleman, who addressed the play of new left tackle Michael Oher, the team’s acquisition of wideout Kevin Norwood, and the areas of the roster that may still need an upgrade.
Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell also discussed a Monday trade, indicating that the decision to move kicker Josh Scobee was the “toughest decision we’ve had to make.” John Oehser of Jaguars.com has the details.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines the cap ramifications of some of the more notable veteran cuts made over thee weekend and on Monday.

NFC Notes: FJax, Cowboys, Mathis, Long

August 31st, 2015 at 9:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have no interest in Fred Jackson at this time, sources tell David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. For now, they plan on going into season with a committee of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar, but they haven’t closed the door on adding a tailback either. Jackson, of course, is on the open market after getting cut by the Bills on Monday.

Here’s more from the NFC..

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones admitted that he would pursue a talented tailback if there was a fit, though he said that age is a factor. “If we saw a young running back to add to the mix, we’d certainly look at it,” Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
Evan Mathis is now a Bronco, but he received interest from the Seahawks before he landed in Denver, and according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Seattle wanted to know if the veteran guard could play center. The Seahawks moved Max Unger in the Jimmy Graham trade with New Orleans back in March, and will likely roll with the inexperienced Drew Nowak at center to start the season.
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that he has not ruled out signing veteran offensive tackle Jake Long, as Andrew Hirsh of AtlantaFalcons.com writes. “He’s somebody we’ve still talked about for sure,” Quinn said of Long, who auditioned for Atlanta earlier this summer. “(He’s) a guy we have lots of regard for.”

Bills Notes: Jackson, Ryan, Cassel

August 31st, 2015 at 8:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Bills parted ways with running back Fred Jackson. The news was devastating to many Bills fans but also to Jackson himself who would have “done anything” to retire with the Bills, according to a source to spoke with Mike Florio of PFT. Bills GM Doug Whaley acknowledged today that finances played a role in Jackson’s exit from Buffalo, but Florio hears that the veteran was never even given a chance to make things work with the team. Here’s more on the Bills..

In a statement that was seemingly hinting at the salary-cap ramifications of cutting Jackson, coach Rex Ryan said the Bills are “restricted by several limitations as a team,” Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Ryan went on to say that he isn’t worried about Jackson landing with the Patriots or any other divisional rival, as Rodak wrote.
Safety Aaron Williams said that Ryan told the locker room that the team did everything possible to keep Jackson, as Rodak writes.
Ryan told reporters, including Rodak (link): “I expect to keep three quarterbacks on the roster. That’s a true statement.” Many would assume that those three QBs would be newly-named starter Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel, and E.J. Manuel. However, Matt Simms could be in the mix for that third spot.