saintz08

Jackson tackles weighty issues

By TOM SILVERSTEIN


Green Bay - The off-season had potential disaster written all over it for nose tackle Grady Jackson and the Green Bay Packers.

Though Jackson had been the catalyst in reviving the Packers' pass rush during the second half of last season, he required minor surgery on his right knee Feb. 16. Considering that weight had always been an issue for the eighth-year veteran, some in the Packers organization held their breath over the effect a three- or four-week layoff would have on him.

Yet Jackson reported to town weighing a respectable 355 pounds, 15 below what he weighed when he was first picked up off waivers from New Orleans Nov. 4 and 5 to 10 pounds below what he weighed at the end of the season.

"To be honest, I'm ecstatic because anytime you have surgery on a big guy, you have an extra two or three weeks before you can start doing stuff," pro personnel director Reggie McKenzie said. "The red flag comes up more with a big guy because maybe he's not doing anything."

Jackson said he made a conscious effort to walk as much as possible and report to camp in the best shape he could. It doesn't hurt that he has four $50,000 weight bonuses in his contract, the first of which required him to be 345 pounds at the start of this minicamp.

Despite not making the first incentive, Jackson has given the Packers plenty of hope that he'll pick up where he left off last season, when he invigorated the entire defense with his ability to penetrate the backfield. His weight might not be perfect but it is not a hindrance to his play.

"When we're out here doing drills he's as quick as a freaking cat, I'll tell you that much," defensive-line coach Jethro Franklin said. "But he can be quicker. For us to do what we set out to accomplish, that has to happen. He just has to improve each time."

The weight clauses that were included in the two-year, $2.31 million contract extension that Jackson signed Dec. 27 also require him to weigh 340 pounds at the June minicamp, 335 at the start of training camp and 330 at the start of the regular season. Jackson will be paid $50,000 for meeting any of those prescribed weights.

Jackson's weight was not an issue when he sparked the defense last year and it probably won't be one this year, provided he stays around 350. A year after totaling 33 tackles, 21/2 sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games (including playoffs), Jackson, 31, said he was ready to take his game to another level.

"I'm a guy who gets sacks and my goal is to get 10," Jackson said. "I've always been stuck on eight or seven. If I can get 10, that would be great. Ten is the goal."

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/apr04/226231.asp





[Edited on 4/5/2004 by saintz08]

Danno

[unverified statements, no link provided]
Grady has always shown up at his new job in decent shape. He has a history of ballooning up after his initial inspired new-attitude.
Hmmm, he started at 340 last year with us and weighed 370-plus by week 9 and was taking plays off left and right.
He\'ll probably do good for GB for about 6-8 weeks, then he\'ll balloon up again and they\'ll learn the same thing the Saints and Raiders already know.
At least GB had the foresight to put weight penalties in his contract, not just weight bonuses.
[/unverified statements, no link provided]

coastalkid

Grady is history as far as I\'m concerned. It\'s time to see what Sullivan can do or maybe see how he looks in a Packers uniform too!

DatFu

didnt gravy show up for cmap weighin like 400 pounds? i remember hazlitt bein all, \"were concerned about the mans health.\"

WhoDat

This says it all. In New Orleans the guy is overweight, a locker room distraction, and average at best on the field. In Green Bay, he\'s the reason that they got better at the end of the year. But you guys are right, that has nothing to do with coaching.

Two words: Mickey Mouse.

Danno

370 plus pounds, taking plays off, missing meetings, refusing to visit doctors for a bad PINKY... Yea thats all coaching
LMAO!

Ya think him being humiliated publicly by Haz had anything to do with his new-found motivation? Something he\'s done his whole career?
Unbelievable! Can you say AGENDA!!!!

[Edited on 3/5/2004 by Danno]

WhoDat

OK - so by your own claims we should hear about Grady being \"370 plus pounds, taking plays off, missing meetings, refusing to visit doctors for a bad PINKY\" by mid-season right?

That\'s not due to coaching, or at least the general environment, culture if you will, that the coach creates? You think there\'s a reason that this entire team is undisciplined? No, that\'s not coaching, that\'s just a bad seed right? Grady is just a bad seed... what about the other 15 players over the last year or two Danno? They just bad seeds also? Man, Haslett sure is a bad judge of character and how that relates to play then huh? Oh, no, wait, he couldn\'t possibly have seen this coming, it\'s just bad luck. Amazing, the Saints must be the unluckiest team in the league. Nearly 30% of their players are overweight, underperforming, or \'cancers\'. Did some crazy voodoo witch put a spell on them?

Unbelievable.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"

WhoDat

Here\'s an idea, let\'s think about the starters from last season, and the other important players:

Grant - debateable. I\'ve heard people go both ways with him, so I\'ll just give this one to the sunshiners and say he played great.

Sullivan - coaches are calling him a disappointment and are unhappy with his ability to step up his game or control his weight. Score one for the moonshiners, especially when you consider he cost us two first rounders.

Grady - was such a \'let down\' that the coaches cut him mid-season. I can\'t even remember who took his spot, so you know he must have been good. Moonshiners 2, sunshiners 1.

Howard - injured... but played very well when he returned. In his stead, Willie Whitehead was a beast. It\'s all tied up at 2.

Hodge - Still poo. You cannot possibly say you\'re happy about his play with a straight face unless you are arguing just to argue. Moonshiners score another.

Ruff - we actually went out and targeted this guy. He was supposed to come in a stop the run. How\'d that work out? He didn\'t really even see the field until late in the season. I don\'t care who you\'ve got in that position, if Orlando Ruff can play there it\'s a problem spot. Moonshiners up 4-2.

Rodgers - played well considering his age. He probably wouldn\'t start anywhere else in the league, but he\'s not a bad player. I\'d say this guy is a scratch, but I know the sunshine club will b!tch if I do that so I\'ll give it to them. 4-3.

Dale Carter - Bad. By any stretch of the imagination this guy was a bust. 5-3 Moon men.

Fred Thomas - He\'s a good number 2 corner. He\'s not spectacular, but he gets the job done. He plays well enough to warrant a score for the sun worshipers, so they get it. 5-4.

Mitchel - hurt. Bellamy - played much better than the previous year. Was actually pretty good at times. He definitely played over his head, score one for the sunshine club. 5-5.

Jones - 5-5 going into the final player... who unfortunately cost us tons and can\'t tackle to save his life. Now, by most accounts this guy was a bust last year. However, if I say that, the sunshiners will no doubt come out of the woodwork. This one is a push.


So what have we learned? Even with a generous accounting system, HALF of the starting defense underachieved. What\'s worse, is that even with all this POTENTIAL, all these young talented players in reserve, none of them could step up and take a starting spot. That\'s some kind of bad luck, no? Shall we talk offense? Just ask the sunshiners about all the missed blocks, false starts, and dropped passes, (not to mention turnovers), and I think you\'ll find an outcome no different than that of the defense.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"

Danno

Whtas up with the bad-luck nonsense you posting in just about every post. Where\'d you get that from?

WhoDat

Ask your partner in crime, Saintfan.