Falcons would be smart to pursue Steven Jackson

Michael Turner was released by the Atlanta Falcons who are now looking to go in another direction at the running back position. What I don’t understand is why no one is bringing up Steven Jackson as a potential replacement?

The Falcons should pursue Steven Jackson, because this is a football player; not just a running back, but a football player that has rushed for 1,000 yards a season for eight straight seasons. On a football team in the St. Louis Rams that was regularly in the bottom of the NFC West for multiple seasons. He can catch, run and still has the explosiveness that this Falcons’ team needs.

Steven Jackson: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Yet no one is talking about him connected to the Falcons. Everybody wants to draft a running back or go after someone else; because they believe Jackson has bad karma associated with him.

The injury issues are a thing of the past as Jackson hasn’t had an injury plagued season since 2008. He’s only 29 years old now, and is a step ahead of Michael Turner in terms of talent.

Turner was never a great pass catcher, but Jackson has averaged 45 receptions a season in his career with the Rams. Jackson has it all as a running back, and bringing him into the Falcons.

A team that actually has talent and a quarterback that can take him to the promise land will motivate him to have the best season of his career. I’d even say seasons, because he’s worth signing to a three-year deal.

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At this point Falcons fans; Steven Jackson is the safest bet as the running back that can take this Falcons offense to another level. Drafting Eddie Lacy will only add another Michael Turner type of running back to the backfield.

However adding Steven Jackson is like adding a Steven Jackson. He still has the talent to be a three down running back in the NFL, and the Falcons would be fools to pass on a veteran whose only issue in his entire career was being on a bad football team.

James Cobern is a Featured Journalist for TPF and can be contacted at JCobern@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.