saintz08

Packers offer Jackson clean slate
Cut by Saints, tackle makes quick move to Green Bay
By ARNIE STAPLETON
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GREEN BAY, Wis. - A man's reputation usually precedes him, and that certainly was the case Wednesday in Green Bay, where the Packers eagerly awaited the arrival of massive defensive tackle Grady Jackson.

"I know he's a very, very large man," center Mike Flanagan said, recalling last season, when the Packers hand their hands full with Jackson and Norman Hand in a loss at New Orleans.

Jackson is even bigger than Flanagan remembered, too. He's said to be pushing 370 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame, about 30 more than a year ago.

The Packers signed the talented but troubled lineman late Tuesday after he was cut by the Saints, who were unhappy with his weight and his attitude.

But Jackson didn't arrive in Green Bay early enough to practice or attend meetings.

Coach Mike Sherman said he's counting on Jackson practicing today and playing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

The Packers' defensive line has been their biggest disappointment. Rod Walker, who needs surgery on his left shoulder and right knee, joined Joe Johnson and James Lee on injured reserve this week.

So the Packers were thrilled to sign the seventh-year veteran who spent five years in Oakland and registered 85 tackles and nine sacks in 1½ seasons with the Saints.

Sherman said he envisions playing sumo-sized nose tackle Gilbert Brown and Jackson together at times.

"That'd probably be good," Brown said. "Two big ol' dudes in there like that. I know I'm cuter, though."

Defensive tackle Larry Smith, who joined the Packers last month after several seasons in Jacksonville, said Jackson should fit right in.

"I don't know anything about Grady," Smith said. "But, being a professional, I'm sure he can pick up anything he has to."

Jackson was suspended without pay for failing to report to the team hotel for a Saints home game against Carolina two weeks ago. He didn't play in that game because of an injury to the small finger of his left hand, which required surgery to reattach a ligament.

Saints coach Jim Haslett, who was miffed that Jackson skipped offseason workouts in New Orleans because of personal problems, was upset that Jackson chose to sit out against the Panthers rather than play with the injury.

Sherman said Jackson's injured finger won't be a bother in Green Bay.

"He was ready to play this week for the Saints if he was still on their roster," Sherman said. "And he assures me that will not be an issue."

Another Saints castoff, cornerback Michael Hawthorne, was excited about Jackson's signing.

"You're going to love his game," Hawthorne said. "For a big man, he can play."

Hawthorne said he knew from personal experience that Jackson wasn't the villain the Saints contended he was.

"Everybody has problems in New Orleans," Hawthorne said. "If you're an average person, a pretty nice guy, the Saints have problems with you. It's like they accept bad seeds. The problems stem with them.

"One thing you can't do is control or talk to a person like they're beneath the earth. You don't get anything accomplished by talking negative to a person all the time.

"Let me just tell you this: We got a steal in Grady Jackson."