Posts Tagged ‘free agency’

Redskins sign Tanard Jackson

Jackson is looking to get his career back on track in Washington.

It was a surprise earlier in the week when the Tampa Bay Bucs cut once promising safety Tanard Jackson, yet it was not a surprise when Jackson resurfaced only days later, on a new team with a familiar face on the coaching staff, as it was announced today that he signed on with the Washington Redskins, reuniting him with former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris, who is now the secondary coach in the nation’s capital.

Jackson, who has played five season in the National Football League, all of them with the Bucs, has had an up and down career to this point, will look to get back on track with Washington. He has started a total of 56 games in his career and following the 2009 season when he intercepted five passes, the future seemed bright.

However, Jackson has repeatedly run into trouble off the field, as he was suspended on two different occasions for the violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. On top of that, he has struggled with injuries and failed a physical recently with Tampa Bay, which was cited as the reason for his release.

Last season, Jackson played in 10 games, registering 35 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed. For his career Jackson has 10 interceptions and 11 forced or recovered fumbles to go along with 27 pass breakups, so at one time he was a productive player.

Analysis: This is a low-risk move for Washington, Jackson is a talented player, who has encountered some off the field problems, yet the potential for him to develop into a regular starter at safety still exists and surely, the Redskins hope that having Morris on staff to oversee Jackson as his position coach, will greatly assist in the regeneration of Jackson’s once promising career.

LeBron meets with 6 teams in biggest free agent year in NBA history.

The whole NBA is holding their collective breath until they find out one thing:  What is he going to do? 

He is not Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire (who is nearing a $100 millon deal with the Knicks), Dwayne Wade, or Dirk Nowitski.  He is Lebron James and right or wrong, he is the most imporatnt man in basketball.  Not for his playing ability or marketing power, though those things are certainly why everyone wants him.  But it’s for his decision.

James is a free agent and has been since 12:01 am July 1st.  He is the straw that stirs the drink in what is being recognized as the biggest free agent year ever in the NBA.  With so many of it’s top stars opting for free agency, some teams gave up on last season in order to clear cap space to sign one – or in some cases more than one – of these young players.

Yesterday, the son of Akron, Ohio sat down with the likes of Nets owners Mikhail Prokhorov and rapper Jay-Z, Nets coach Avery Johnson, and GM Rod Thorn.  He also entertained the New York Knicks who had a truckload of stuff to bring with them – literally.

Today, sporting a white t-shirt and baggy sweat pants (the perfect choice of clothing for an important business meeting with professional excecutives offering millions and millions of dollars) he entertained the Miami Heat with Heat exec. and former coach Pat Riley, Heat owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra and former Heat center Alonzo Mourning (all wearing business suits – way to be overdressed) in toe. 

After a courtesy meet and greet with the L.A. Clipppers, James will call it a day.  In tomorrow’s Main Event, LeBron will be entertaining the Chicago Bulls, as well as his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers - the 2 teams considered the favorites to land him. 

He hopes to make a decision by July 5th.  What James decides may shape the NBA for the next decade.