Buzz around NFL is Steven Jackson is coming to Atlanta

[keithbrooking56]

Yahoo's Jason Cole says that "based on what was happening" at the Combine, free agent Steven Jackson's "likely landing spot" is Atlanta.


It's the same vibe Rams beat writer Jim Thomas is getting. The Falcons see Jacquizz Rodgers as a mere change-of-pace option, evidenced by the 222 carries they gave washed-up Michael Turner last season. Although Jackson has plenty of wear on his tires, he's averaged 4.23 yards per carry over the last two seasons behind a horrendous Rams offensive line. S-Jax has also averaged 8.17 yards per reception over that span, staving off a decline by staying in tremendous physical condition. He'd be an ideal addition for the Falcons' up-tempo offense.


As long as he actually HAS tread left on the tire I'd love to see him in Atlanta on a smart 3 year deal.

[Aftermath]

suicide

If we make a move like this to me it means that we think our window is closing this year or next. rather than continuing to build for the future like we have been we would be building for 2013, at the expense of the future. signing old vets with 1 or 2 years left just seems to smack of desperation. Fortunately, I don't think we will have the cap room to sign a Freeney or an Osi or a Jackson.

[Aftermath]

(02-26-2013 12:28 PM)keithbrooking56 Wrote:  As long as he actually HAS tread left on the tire I'd love to see him in Atlanta on a smart 3 year deal.

There is nothing smart about signing a 29 year old RB to a 3 year deal, unless of course he is making vet minimum or something close to it.

[McUser]

I know he can pound it inside and he can catch the ball. So it won't be a giveaway when he's in the game. That's the biggest thing. Whoever is in the backfield has to be a dual threat. As long as Jackson isn't making a fortune I'm totally cool with him coming to ATL.

[keithbrooking56]

(02-26-2013 12:38 PM)Aftermath Wrote:  There is nothing smart about signing a 29 year old RB to a 3 year deal, unless of course he is making vet minimum or something close to it.

This is the NFL. You front load the first two years and make the last year voidable or just waive him if he burns out like Turner did.

[mdrake34]

I'll believe it when I see it. His agent is trying to stir up interest in his client.

[Aftermath]

(02-26-2013 01:13 PM)keithbrooking56 Wrote:  This is the NFL. You front load the first two years and make the last year voidable or just waive him if he burns out like Turner did.

he just gave up the opportunity to make 7 million next season, I can't see him taking less than 5+ million a year to play anywhere. we could either pay a rookie 1-2M, if not less or we can pay a 29 year old RB with a lot of mileage double or triple that. SJ may be better in the short term (next year) but you don't stay a good team in the NFL by doing stuff like that. We got this far by building for a long haul, no reason to change it now. As I said before, if the FO does make a move like this or one of the many others (freeney, osi) that people advocate for, it would be a sign that our window is closing and that this may be our best chance over the next few years and I don't think that is the case at all.

[ATLBound]

(02-26-2013 12:32 PM)Aftermath Wrote:  suicide

If we make a move like this to me it means that we think our window is closing this year or next. rather than continuing to build for the future like we have been we would be building for 2013, at the expense of the future. signing old vets with 1 or 2 years left just seems to smack of desperation. Fortunately, I don't think we will have the cap room to sign a Freeney or an Osi or a Jackson.

I dont get how it means that and absolutely nothing else. We have holes in some parts and in other parts upgrades.

You don't fill up all the holes and positions to upgrade with all young guys. Having a proven vet who has shown no decline doesn't indicate we think our window is closing.

The Patriots signed an old Corey Dillon to add on to their potent passing attack and won a SB and are still in the thick of things last I checked. Just because you sign a vet it doesn't indicate the FO thinks our window is closing. It's called buying time for when we see a young talent we want. Its possible the FO doesn't like any RB's or that they like one but he is a project. Its called a stopgap.

[ATLBound]

This is what you do to a Top 5 offense. You add veteran threats. SJ is smart and understands the small things while being a great player. We handle older guys with an injury history well and that addition along with picking up a RB this or next is a smart move and speaks to buying time until we find a valid replacement.

[Beef]

We will certainly have cap room for him. He was scheduled to make $7M but is choosing an opt out in his contract because he wants to play for a contender. Which means we could get him for at or less than $7M.

If signing him means we can skip RB this year in our top 3 picks and get a known commodity of production, I'm all for it. 29 is still young for a RB. Those are still near prime years in fact. It's when they hit 33 you worry. SJ is a baller and a perfect fit for this offense. Absolutely perfect because he can finesse run, 2-3 cut, power it in the hole, power for short yardage, and catch extremely well and burst in open space. Big back and hard to tackle. I'll take that for the next couple years and worry about drafting a RB next year.

I know in previous threads I said it was retarded to consider a TE with our first 3 picks because DE, RB, and DT were much greater priorities, but Tyler Eifert blew it up at the combine. That dude is the real deal. He did everything you could imagine at that position flawlessly at the combine. Can block, run, catch, and play 3 downs. So now I'm thinking there's a chance we take him if he's there at 30. If not, then I think we go DE. And if we sign Jackson, we can load up on defense with our first 3 picks.