He’ll go down as one of the best, and most wasted, players in the franchise’s history. Running back Steven Jackson signed a one-day contract with the Los Angeles Rams Monday and officially retired from the NFL.
Jackson hasn’t played a down of football since 2015, but apparently had kept the door open to join a team as a free agent. Now, he’s ready to move on.
Ram for life.@SJ39 signs a one-day contract to retire a Ram!
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 29, 2019
Jackson was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft to be the heir apparent to Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk and he delivered on that promise. Unfortunately, the team didn’t. The Rams made one poor choice after another, beginning with dumping Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, then a few years later firing head coach Mike Martz.
Jackson never got to play with the real Greatest Show on Turf, instead relegated to the mediocre quarterback stylings of Marc Bulger until the then St. Louis Rams had finally seen enough of him.
Always been in my heart but feels good to be back home. https://t.co/45M4Fnfy3a
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) July 29, 2019
While the rest of the team languished with head coaches like Scott Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo, Jackson continued to flourish. From 2005-2012, he surpassed 1,000 yards for eight consecutive seasons. By the time he was able to escape Rams purgatory and play for winning teams, his body betrayed him.
In two years with the Atlanta Falcons, he never hit 1,000 yards or played a full season. His averages of 3.5 yards per carry in 2013 and 3.7 in 2014 were the lowest of his career. He played in two games for the New England Patriots in 2015, with one being the AFC Championship loss to the Denver Broncos.
Steven Jackson received his final handoff before retiring.
What a career for the Rams' all-time leading rusher 💪 (via @RamsNFL)pic.twitter.com/hleBBRl9op
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 30, 2019
Jackson’s career ends with 11,438 rushing yards, 69 touchdowns, 461 receptions, 3,683 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.
Ridiculous Saints fan lawsuit will get an appearance from Roger Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been ordered to submit to questioning under oath in the fan-brought lawsuit against the NFL over the blown pass interference call in last year’s NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
Judge orders Roger Goodell and three officials to be questioned under oath about P.I. no-call in Rams vs. Saints NFC title game, per @AP_NFL pic.twitter.com/cYv1tn3nJN
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) July 29, 2019
The suit seeks $75,000 in damages, which attorney Antonio LeMon, the man that brought the suit, claims will be donated to former Saints special teams player Steve Gleason’s ALS charity.
