Falcons named as likely Steven Jackson suitor

The Falcons figure to be in the market for a back, and there’s an indication they might be looking at swapping old for old.
According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Falcons are “one of the most likely suitors” for Steven Jackson if he gets away from the Rams.
The Falcons have a need at the position, as they’re expected to release Michael Turner.
And Jackson will become a free agent by voiding the final year of his contract, getting to the market for the first time in his career.
Turner, 31, gained just 800 yards last season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He did score 10 touchdowns, marking the fifth straight year he’s had double-digit scores for the Falcons.
Jackson, who turns 30 just before the start of training camp, had 1,042 rushing yards last year, averaging 4.1 per carry.
But Jackson also has more miles on his tires than Turner, with more than 750 more career rushing attempts. His numbers haven’t dropped off as precipitously as Turner’s have, but his rushing yards have decreased three years running.
The Falcons know they’re close, and know they need some backfield help (regardless their support for Jacquizz Rodgers), but going to Jackson instead of a younger back would be another bold move for a team that hasn’t shied away from them.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Darin Gantt
Getty Images

Jeff Fisher says he didn’t bench Steven Jackson

Rams running back Steven Jackson picked up a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second quarter of today’s win over the Redskins and then never returned to the field. The Rams never said anything about Jackson being injured, and so it was assumed that Jackson had been benched for the penalty.
But Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after the game that he didn’t bench Jackson: Instead, Fisher explained, Jackson had suffered a groin injury, and he was taken out of the game because of that.
It’s odd that there was no explanation during the game: NFL teams are supposed to announce the status of injured players who leave the game, but the Rams and the announcers on the FOX broadcast apparently had some kind of miscommunication, because the announcers said repeatedly that Jackson had been benched for the penalty, even though he hadn’t been.
The Rams got a good game out of Jackson’s replacement, Daryl Richardson, who carried 15 times for 83 yards after Jackson went out. Richardson, however, fumbled on his very last carry. That’s the kind of thing that really could get Fisher to bench him.

source: PFT.com
author: Michael David Smith
photo credit: Getty Images from StLSportsMinute.com