One of the past decade’s most successful ball carriers will reportedly hit the open market for the first time this offseason.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, running back Steven Jackson will void the final year of his contract with the Rams, becoming a free agent for the first time in his nine-year career when the league year begins March 12.
Though he has never led the league in rushing, Jackson’s production has been remarkably consistent. The 29-year old has rushed for over 1,000 yards in every season since 2005, and his 13,459 career yards for scrimmage rank first among all players since Jackson entered the league in 2004.
Jackson has unfortunately spent most of that career as the best player on a bad team, as St. Louis has never finished above .500 during Jackson’s tenure, reaching the postseason just once. There remains hope for him to stay in St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch reports, but he would need to restructure his current deal to do so. The Rams owe Jackson $7 million this season.
Should he hit free agency, Jackson will join a strong veteran crop that will likely include Ahmad Bradshaw and Michael Turner. Bradshaw was released by the Giants earlier this month, and the Falcons are expected to do the same to Turner, putting both New York and Atlanta on the list of those who would be interested in Jackson’s services should he leave St. Louis.
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal also calls New England an attractive landing spot for Jackson, who desperately wants to play for a contender and could provide experience to the Patriots’ stable of young backs led by Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.
Photo via Facebook/Official St. Louis Rams
