Steven Jackson is officially a free agent after voiding the final year of his contract in an expected move and now the Rams running back says that he would like to be starting next season after moving on from his original franchise.
According to ESPN.com, Jackson voided his contract with the St. Louis Rams on Thursday and is now set to be an unrestricted free agent when the signing period begins on March 12. The Rams were expected to let him go after limiting his play towards the end of the season and the report says that the team wanted Jackson to be a running back by committee next year if he stayed.
"For where I'm at, going into Year 10, I'm not ready to step back and just become a primary backup or a reduced role guy to be part of a running back by committee," Jackson said Thursday on Sirius XM NFL Radio. "I still have a lot left in my tank. I still have a lot left to offer to a team. We're not talking about someone that's in Year 12 or 13."
Jackson is all-time rushing leader for the Rams, but coach Jeff Fisher wanted to get younger at the position. He would like to move to a winning team, since he has never played for one while in St. Louis.
"Well, that's where a very open dialogue has to take place," he said. "I have opted out of my position of being with the team and being comfortable because I want to continue to still be the bell cow. So that's how I want teams to look at me, that's how I'm going to shop myself, and we'll cross that bridge when we get there if that's not the feedback we're receiving."
Jackson has made the Pro Bowl; three times in his career and has rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons. Last year he rushed for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns and has 2,395 carries for 10,135 yards and 56 touchdowns during his nine-year career.
He has been a workhorse during his career, playing in at least 14 games in seven of his nine years and having eight straight seasons with at least 237 carries. He has been a durable running back and although he had his lowest rushing total since 2008 last season, he could be a valuable addition to running back-starved teams like the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.
Jeff Fisher used Daryl Richardson the majority of the time at the end of the season and Isaiah Pead also got looks on the field. The team also drafted two running backs last season.
"It would be more of a running back by committee kind of agreement [with the Rams] going forward. I embrace the fact that I took in Daryl [Richardson] and Isaiah Pead and taught them a lot and hopefully they'll go on to not only excel, but be very good athletes and good professionals in this league. But for where I'm at going into Year 10, I'm not ready to step back and just become a primary backup or reduced-role guy, to be a part of a running back by committee," Jackson said.
The Packers could be a perfect candidate, as they are lacking at running back after using Alex Green, DuJuan Harris and James Starks last season. The team ranked 20th in the league in rushing and was led by Alex Green, who had just 464 yards. Packers also used Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant last year, but both are free agents and could move.
John Clayton at ESPN said that the fit could work:
"I think that would be a great idea. Jackson isn't going to make $7 million this year. Jackson has until the start of free agency to void the last year of his Rams contract. Although the Rams want him back, I think he will hit the market. If that is the case, Thompson could offer $5 million and see whether that could lure Jackson to Green Bay. He would be perfect for that offense."
The Falcons could also be an option after releasing Michael Turner.