NFL
Jackson wants Bills to reward character
Fred Jackson and his agent think the Buffalo Bills should, in effect, put their money where their mouth is in regards to high-character players.
Jackson, the Bills’ second-string running back, is without a signed contract and has been dissatisfied with the way negotiations on a long-term deal have gone this spring.
A day after Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon espoused the importance of strong character in the team’s player evaluations, Jackson’s agent, Jerry Douglas, released a statement.
“We find the organization’s comments regarding the importance of character very interesting given their position on Fred Jackson,” said Douglas, who is based in New Jersey. “I think it’s a fair statement to say that during his three years with the Bills, Fred has demonstrated his high character and that he is second to none in that department, to say nothing of his on-the-field contributions. Yet the organization is not making a concerted effort to lock in Fred as part of the team’s long-term future. Public statements are great as long as you mean what you say.”
The Bills have seen three of their players arrested this offseason — Ko Simpson, Marshawn Lynch and Donte Whitner. Brandon on Wednesday reemphasized how seriously the team’s scouts assess character concerns leading up to the NFL draft. He and Tom Modrak, vice president of college scouting, also stressed that the Bills historically have had a good track record for avoiding player-conduct problems.
“It’s taken very seriously as an organization,“ Brandon said. “We always value character. It goes into the overall operation of our draft and everything we do here when we’re evaluating a player.”
The Bills declined comment on Jackson’s statement.
Jackson has only two years tenure in the NFL and is labeled an “exclusive rights free agent.” That means the Bills have exclusive negotiating rights to him because of the fact they made a minimum contract offer to him — one year for $460,000 — in late February. Jackson can not negotiate with or sign with any other team. He will play for that minimum offer if he can not reach a longer-term deal. If no longer deal is reached, the Bills would have Jackson’s rights again next offseason, when he would be a restricted free agent.
Jackson has been participating in the team’s offseason conditioning workouts since April 6.
Jackson is known for being a strong team-oriented player for the Bills. He also has been very involved in community service and making public appearances for the team.
Jackson proved to be a versatile backup to Lynch last season. Jackson rushed 130 times for 571 yards and caught 37 passes for 317 yards.
Denver last month signed a couple of backup runners who did not match Jackson’s numbers last season. Correll Buckhalter and J. J. Arrington each agreed to four-year deals with the Broncos for about $10 million apiece. Buckhalter had 76 carries for 369 yards and 26 catches in ’08. Arrington had 31 carries for 187 yards and 29 catches in ’08. Both were unrestricted free agents.
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