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Free agent nose tackle Grady Jackson, released by the Atlanta Falcons last week, is now a Jacksonville Jaguar.
Jackson
Jackson reached agreement in principle on a one-year contract Tuesday; the team announced Wednesday that Jackson had signed. Financial details of the contract were not available. ESPN.com first reported Monday night that Jackson was to visit with Jaguars officials and was expected to sign.
Jackson will move in for second-year defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who is expected to go on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
In a surprising move, the Falcons released the 11-year veteran, who had started in 22 of 23 games since signing with the franchise as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 and who has long been regarded as one of the NFL's toughest interior defenders.
Landing Jackson adds further depth and experience to a defensive tackle unit that already rates among the NFL's best.
The Jaguars feature a pair of Pro Bowl tackles in former first-round draft choices Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. The backups are Rob Meier, McDaniel and Derek Landri. But the Jaguars, who statistically rank No. 15 in the league in both total defense and defense versus the run through the first eight weeks of the season, haven't yet gotten the kind of play at the position to which they are accustomed.
Stroud underwent offseason microfracture surgery to address a chronic ankle problem and his rehabilitation stretched into training camp, where he was limited to one practice per day. Henderson has struggled at times in 2007 to reach his past performance level. There is some suspicion that Henderson is not 100 percent physically.
Jackson has the kind of size head coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Mike Smith prefer upfront and he would fit well with a unit whose first priority is to stop the run.
Jacksonville is one of several teams to have contacted agent Angelo Wright about Jackson, and is the only franchise with which he scheduled a visit. The day after his release, Jackson said his priority was to sign with a playoff contender.
Last week's abrupt release of Jackson, whose physical presence and ability to command double-team blocking helped improved the Falcons' run defense in 2006, ended a brief but tumultuous relationship between the team and the player.
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JacksonJackson reached agreement in principle on a one-year contract Tuesday; the team announced Wednesday that Jackson had signed. Financial details of the contract were not available. ESPN.com first reported Monday night that Jackson was to visit with Jaguars officials and was expected to sign.
Jackson will move in for second-year defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who is expected to go on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
In a surprising move, the Falcons released the 11-year veteran, who had started in 22 of 23 games since signing with the franchise as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 and who has long been regarded as one of the NFL's toughest interior defenders.
Landing Jackson adds further depth and experience to a defensive tackle unit that already rates among the NFL's best.
The Jaguars feature a pair of Pro Bowl tackles in former first-round draft choices Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. The backups are Rob Meier, McDaniel and Derek Landri. But the Jaguars, who statistically rank No. 15 in the league in both total defense and defense versus the run through the first eight weeks of the season, haven't yet gotten the kind of play at the position to which they are accustomed.
Stroud underwent offseason microfracture surgery to address a chronic ankle problem and his rehabilitation stretched into training camp, where he was limited to one practice per day. Henderson has struggled at times in 2007 to reach his past performance level. There is some suspicion that Henderson is not 100 percent physically.
Jackson has the kind of size head coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Mike Smith prefer upfront and he would fit well with a unit whose first priority is to stop the run.
Jacksonville is one of several teams to have contacted agent Angelo Wright about Jackson, and is the only franchise with which he scheduled a visit. The day after his release, Jackson said his priority was to sign with a playoff contender.
Last week's abrupt release of Jackson, whose physical presence and ability to command double-team blocking helped improved the Falcons' run defense in 2006, ended a brief but tumultuous relationship between the team and the player.
More...
