Steven Jackson

[StL FinFan]

Does anyone else think he is being a whiny little bitch or is it just me?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I have to agree with Stl here.  He's coming off an injury plagued season and wants that big contract. 

He needs to earn it.

[StL FinFan]

He publicly blasted fans for being "disloyal" and selling their tickets to opposing fans and now he is holding out.  Who's disloyal now bitch?

[Dave Gray]

What's the story on Jackson? -- I don't see much on him here in S. Florida.

[StL FinFan]

He is not attending training camp because he wants his contract restructured/extended.

[Brian Fein]

he thinks his injury-prone, overrated ass is worth more than he's getting and so he's holding out of camp.

[gocowboys31]

he thinks his injury-prone, overrated ass is worth more than he's getting and so he's holding out of camp.

He is worth it. The rams backup running back is travis minor, he dosen't exactly strike the fear of god into opposing defenses. Jackson ran behind a makeshift offensive line last season, and wants to be paid because of pounding running backs endure.

The rams don't have many offensive weapons and without jackson Bulger is going to be in a hospital bed. Jackson has the leverage and the rams need to pay up.

[fyo]

Jackson is in the last year of his 5-year deal. He's set to earn $1.7 million this year - or around twice the veteran minimum. On the open market, he could probably get around double his current salary.

Realistically, the Rams ran him into the ground in 2006 and paid the price (as did he) in 2007. I understand both parties in this case, I have to say. Jackson wants to be paid, but if the Rams give him the ball 350-400 times this year, he'll never be the same. Therefore, I think he has EVERY reason to sit out half the season (he has to report prior to week 10 in order to become a free agent in 2009).

On the other hand, the Rams have to question whether he's already done... broken by the pounding he took in 2006 and subsequent injury in 2007. They would probably be more than happy to pay him, if they were actually reasonably sure he could be the same explosive guy he was in 2006.

I don't see this ending well. The Rams can't really trade him (they have no backup and coming off an injury, they wouldn't get much in return) and neither side can afford to cave.

The best compromise might be to give him a deal deal with a good signing bonus this year, but relatively low base salaries for the remainder of the contract. That way the Rams only risk a couple million this year, in exchange for actually having a running back for the first 8 games. The contract would include incentives, allowing Jackson to reach maybe $5 million a year if he keeps up his productivity. Not ideal for either party, but maybe a reasonable compromise.

If the Rams don't give him something, I see no way he reports before he absolutely has to (prior to week 10).