Stephen Jackson Signs 49.93 Million Dollar Deal

Source: Jackson's new deal could be worth as much as $49.3 million
ESPN.com news services


ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson signed a six-year contract Thursday and was on the field for practice after completing a physical.

Rams fans, rejoice: Steven Jackson ran with the football in his first practice Thursday. The team extended a multiyear contract offer and he ran with that, too.

"It was great to see him," coach Scott 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 agreed to a two-tiered deal with the Rams. It's either a three-year extension worth $29.3 million with $21 million guaranteed, or a five-year, $49.3 million contract that includes huge escalators in Years 4 and 5, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

The way the contract works is that it is structurally a five-year deal lasting until 2013. The final two years can be voided based on Jackson's performance, but his performance can also trigger the escalators to take the five-year deal to $49.3 million.

Though a breakdown of the triggers of the deal isn't fully known, a source told ESPN.com that Jackson has to perform similarly the next three seasons to the numbers he put up from 2005 through 2007 to fulfill the escalators.

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."

Jackson rushed for 3,576 yards and 26 touchdowns the past three years and caught 171 passes for 1,396 yards and six touchdowns. In the prime of his career, Jackson is figuring he can equal those numbers and become a free agent by 2012.

After the 2011 season, Jackson would be only 28 and still have a chance to hit the free-agent market at a time he believes there might be a new collective bargaining agreement.

To get this deal, Jackson held out and accumulated about $400,000 of fines while out of camp. He held out long enough that he wasn't able to use 2008 as an accrued season counting in his years toward free agency.

By doing the three-year extension, Jackson doesn't have to worry. If there is no salary cap in 2010, Jackson would have enough years in the league to qualify for free agency for the 2012 season. His biggest accomplishment, though, was becoming the league's highest-paid running back, along with staying with the Rams.

The 235-pound Jackson ended his holdout on Wednesday.

"All things are forgiven," he said. "Some people don't agree and some people do agree and that's just what it boils down to during a holdout. Before I made the decision to hold out I took that into consideration."

Jackson is the centerpiece of the Rams' offense and had been entering the final season of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004.

Linehan said Jackson would be in uniform for Saturday night's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens but would not play. He said that although Jackson reported in good shape, he needed to condition his body for football.

"Really, you can't simulate the game," Linehan said. "It's more the conditioning factor of starting and stopping and getting in the huddle and doing all that. We have plans to do some extra things with him, even when we're not practicing."

Jackson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a story on its Web site that the stalemate had been about a difference in philosophy. He said talks "recommenced" late last week, and Jackson booked a flight from Las Vegas to St. Louis on Wednesday when a deal appeared imminent.

"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."

He had his third consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2007 despite missing four games with injuries.

I don't know why but I've never been sold on Stephen Jackson. Best thing about him was the damn Nike commercial he was in.

i was impressed with him last year, no offensive line and still churned out great yards. I'd take him on the jets any day of the week...well not with that contract since thejets are sort of at the cap max right now.

RCBooba wrote:I don't know why but I've never been sold on Stephen Jackson. Best thing about him was the damn Nike commercial he was in.

why not, he's performed as well as edgarrin james (or w/e his name was) back when he was on the colts. he has put up yards and TDs.

I know he's put up the yards and tds. I can't explain it, I just am not a huge fan. I'd say he needs to prove me wrong but he already has. I'm just thick-headed.

i'm not a rams fan either but i would have him on my team in a heartbeat

RCBooba wrote:I know he's put up the yards and tds. I can't explain it, I just am not a huge fan. I'd say he needs to prove me wrong but he already has. I'm just thick-headed.

I can't even begin to disect that post. It's as though you have given up on life.

So then you did disect it. Stop being a liar

RCBooba wrote:So then you did disect it. Stop being a liar

I can't believe you have given up on life. I don't think you can get hammered in heaven/hell or whereever you are going. Might want to stick around for a tad longer.

Ollie Octagon wrote:

RCBooba wrote:So then you did disect it. Stop being a liar

I can't believe you have given up on life. I don't think you can get hammered in heaven/hell or whereever you are going. Might want to stick around for a tad longer.

Wow. Yeah you really don't know me there, Ollie.

RCBooba wrote:

Ollie Octagon wrote:

RCBooba wrote:So then you did disect it. Stop being a liar

I can't believe you have given up on life. I don't think you can get hammered in heaven/hell or whereever you are going. Might want to stick around for a tad longer.

Wow. Yeah you really don't know me there, Ollie.

Yes I do. Don't you remember the dreams we shared?


That should be a song, just my opinion.