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Rams RB Jackson Signs 6-Year, $44 Million Deal

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 22, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Steven Jackson signed a six-year, $44 million contract, ended a 27-day holdout, and was on the field for practice with the Rams on Thursday.

And all was forgiven.
Coach Scott Linehan, who conducted a month of practices without the centerpiece of the offense, joked that he gave Jackson "a big hug" and then asked for a loan. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace, no stranger to holdouts, said he was happy "big time, big time" to see the bruising runner. Defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said simply, "Things are pretty good at Rams Park right now."

The 235-pound running back had been entering the final season of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. Linehan said he understood the business end of the game after Jackson got a deal that includes more than $20 million in bonuses and puts him third on the salary scale on the team, trailing only quarterback Marc Bulger and Pace and fifth among NFL running backs.

"It was great to see him," Linehan said. "There's no upside to being adversarial in these kind of deals. You've just got to stay positive and you've got to focus on who's here, and have trust and faith in the people that are working on getting everything done."

Jackson, 25, said both sides compromised during negotiations that stayed underground and generally cordial. Gregarious by nature, he kept silent publicly while getting frequent text-message updates from teammates and Linehan, and then flew from his home in Las Vegas to St. Louis on Wednesday when the deal was imminent.

After doing individual drills and a bit of team work in his opening practice, he said he hoped to retire as a Ram. He also pledged to be ready for full duty in the Sept. 7 opener.

"No one gets 100 percent of what they would like to happen, but me and my agent are happy," Jackson said. "Of course, there were heated debates on the phone but no one attacked publicly. I still feel the same way about this organization as I did last year the last game of the season."

DOLPHINS: Running back Ronnie Brown will likely miss Saturday's preseason game with a strained right thumb.

PATRIOTS: New England signed 10-year veteran Mike Flynn in a move to shore up an injury-depleted offensive line.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh signed linebacker James Farrior to a five-year, $18.2 million contract extension that includes a $5 million signing bonus.

TEXANS: Fullback Jameel Cook, who played for the Bucs from 2001-05, was arrested and charged with marijuana possession Wednesday.

THURSDAY'S GAME: Kyle Orton threw two touchdown passes in his first game since being named Chicago's starting quarterback, but the Bears lost 37-30 to San Francisco.

J.T. O'Sullivan outperformed Alex Smith in the battle for the 49ers' starting QB job. Each threw a touchdown pass, but O'Sullivan completed seven of eight passes while Smith was 6-for-17.

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