saintz08

Seahawks/NFL: Hawks could break bank for Jackson

By CLARE FARNSWORTH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

KIRKLAND -- Random thoughts while awaiting the stroke of 12:01 a.m., which marked the start of the NFL free agency period:

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: How much is Darrell Jackson worth? We're about to find out.

The club wants -- needs -- to retain Jackson, and he would like to stay in Seattle. If the deal is right.

Which brings us back to the original pondering: How much is Jackson worth? More than the six-year, $28 million contract Steve Smith just got from the Carolina Panthers, a deal that included an $11 million signing bonus?

That depends on your perception of Jackson. He is not as fast as Smith, and his lack of breakaway speed is a knock Jackson has been unable to elude since joining the Seahawks as a third-round draft choice in 2000. But Jackson had more receiving yards (1,137 to 1,110) and touchdown catches (9 to 7) than Smith last season, on 20 fewer receptions (68 to 88). Smith played in an offense where the only other receiver with more than 35 receptions was Muhsin Muhammad (54). Jackson was one of five receivers with at least 42 receptions for the Seahawks.

Another thing Jackson seems unable to shake is the three-game stretch at midseason in which he dropped eight passes. He emerged from that slump with a four-game surge, compiling numbers that were on pace for a 104-catch, 1,700-yard, 20-touchdown season.

Add the fact that Jackson's skills are a perfect match for coach Mike Holmgren's version of the West Coast offense, and the question arises again:

How much is he worth?

More, in the estimation of his agents, than the Seahawks have offered.



Jackson's market value should start being set in the next few days, when he and his agents are expected to get calls from, and probably make visits to, the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and Buccaneers -- in his hometown of Tampa.

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