Getty ImagesBills running back Fred Jackson has been saying throughout the offseason that he was confident he’d reach an agreement on a new contract soon. Now the deal is done.
“The organization has done a tremendous job of keeping guys around,” Jackson said at the press conference announcing the deal. “Now it’s just about going out and playing football.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but considering that Jackson turned 31 in February, it’s probably safe to say that it will be a relatively short and inexpensive contract. Running backs on the wrong side of 30 just don’t get lucrative long-term deals in the NFL.
Jackson was having his best season as a pro in 2011, with 170 carries for 934 yards, when he was lost for the season with a fractured fibula in the Bills’ 10th game. He sees no reason he can’t have plenty more good seasons ahead of him.
“I want to play as long as possible,” Jackson said. “I don’t feel like I’m slowing down.”
very well deserved! Go bills!!
Welcome home, FJack. Congrats. Well earned.
I hope he got a good deal. He’s a class act and really fought hard to get where he is at today. He deserves to be wealthy.
Additional 2 years at 4 mil per plus incentives. Well deserved. Hes a great back, great guy and the epitome of a Buffalo Bill.
Best back in the league, great guy, well deserved.
NFL MVP before his injury. Easily a top 5 RB, certainly the best all-around RB in the NFL. And to think he used to play minor league Arena Football… Truly amazing.
Congrats fred! No player deserves to be paid more than you, take lessons other nfl players, and other GM’S for that matter. Nix is showing the league that Buffalo is a great to place to play and they take cars of their own. Go BIlls! #billsmafia
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Freddie, I like you, you play hard, but your 31 years old. You haven’t played a full season the past 2 years. Spiller has shown the production upside you currently possess. I would have preferred the raise without the extra commitment. Fred is a fan favorite, so this post will see many negative views, but the harsh reality is that he is taking reps away from our #9 overall RB from 2 years ago. I can see it now, Fred will lose his wheels sooner or later, and Spiller will be so pissed he’ll bounce just like Mcgahee. Fred should start to be phased out of this offense this season, very gradually at first. I like what he does, he could be an All-Pro back this season if he stays healthy. If he stays healthy, though, thats 300 touches for the first time in is career, at almost 32 years old. Don’t be so short sighted, Fellow Bills fans. Freddie isn’t carrying us to the Superbowl, unless he pulls a Marshall Faulk out of his hat, lets get some ground work set and get ready for Spiller time in Buffalo.
He doesn’t really have a lot of wear and tear anyway. Good deal on both sides.
As a fan of a rival AFC East team, I have quite a bit of respect for Fred Jackson. He never quit even though he wasn’t the top name on the depth chart, and when he got his chance, he made the most of it. Class guy.
Well done, Buddy, well done.
Couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Fred is a true class act, the best offensive player on the team, came from humble beginnings (D3, Arena League 2, NFL Europe), and has always worked hard and put the team first.
Really nothing more to say. Great job by Buddy Nix and everyone involved. Great to have Fred in Buffalo.
He is a fantastic player who strikes me as an all around good person too. As a Pats fan I first became aware of him in their last game with Buff in 08 when the winds were so ridiculous. He was amazing in that game. I think the Bills offense will be a big challenge to/measuring stick for the Pats defense.
I hope he got a lot more than backs in his age group have been getting lately.. Gotta love what this dude has done. Congrats.
Good signing for the Bills. Fred’s a quality player and person, and despite being 31, he has fairly low mileage.
He’s about as valuable to his team’s offensive gameplan as any RB is. Like Forte, Peterson, etc, he’s a guy that should be the centerpiece. Great fantasy back, too. It’s good to see they took care of him.
Nice! He was well on his way to a pro-bowl berth before he got hurt. He deserves it.
Fast Fred did me rightgeous last year in FFL.
Glad to see the Bills did the right thing here… a lot of NFL teams wouldn’t have extended a player like Fred, but I think the Bills made a smart call here.
Congrats FredEx!!! … Way to honor your word Buddy … RIGHT MOVE!
@rabidbillsfan….dude, you are really funny. i know what your going to say before i read it. i cannot wait to read the next great idea you have.
Well deserved, now go help us win a Super Bowl
Spiller put up similar numbers when given the opportunity later in the season. Two or three years makes sense for the Bills which is why i’m suprised the deal is 2 year extension.
Gailey needs to watch film of the Panthers from a 2008 on how to use two running backs.
@rabidbillsfan
What are you talking about??? You assume extending Fred Jackson’s contract means Spiller won’t get any touches. Having the two backs does not hurt the team at all. As the season progresses, Spiller will get more touches. Next year, I’m sure Spiller will be the primary back with Jackson getting less touches. If you think Fred Jackson will be the primary back in 3 years when Spiller’s contract expires, you’re nuts.
@rabidbillsfan
Stupid Stupid Stupid referes to you opinion on this topic…Fred was OWNING last season before he had his leg rolled up on. You act like his age is why he didn’t finish the season.
why would you sign a 33yrd RB to a 4 year contract extension this is why the bill’s are allways in last place year after year.
Some people don’t know what they are talking about FredEx will deliver. FJax will tear it up and split touches with Spiller.
Nice and absolutely needed move for the Bills. Fred Jackson is on of their most precious assets!
rabidbillsfan -
This isn’t fantasy football… and anyone suggesting this is a bad extension knows nothing about business or football…There is NOTHING stupid about this decision. They are running a business here as well and if you would still like to see the Bills lure free agents and keep their own budding stars (such as Spiller), you bet your ass they needed to make this deal. This guy is the type of guy we want to reward. Hard working, committed, blue collar, everything the Bills and the city of Buffalo represent. 2 extra years is hardly a long term commitment. Besides, with your apparent lack of knowledge how the football world is put together, let me fill you in. If he “loses his wheels” as you suggest he may, they release him and all they are guaranteed to pay him is the $3 mil signing bonus. Kudos to the Bills organization for justly rewarding one of, if not, THE best running back in football. Further kudos for them continually going against whatever rabidbills fan suggests is the better route.
All around Great Human. He deserves every penny. He earned Them !!!!
Huge difference between giving a 31 year old rb a 2 year extension and a 33 year old rb a 4 year extension. Jackson will be 33 entering the final year of his deal. If they give him a 4 year extension then I think fans can complain.
How anyone can see a downside to this baffles me. You got a GM who is true to his word and rewards on the field performance. People in Buffalo know what rust looks like… you don’t have to drive too far from One Bills Drive to see that. Fred is far from rusty.
Championship teams are built with depth. The release of Drayton Florence opened up the money to insure we can keep our 2 game changing RBs. Two more years at 4 mill a year is a swipe. I am usually pretty calm in the off-season, but Buddy’s Bills are starting to look like the real deal, albeit on paper. Get us a solid backup at QB and I’ll be sold.
Delighted Freddie is staying. No downside.
Great move by the Bills. With CJ Spiller available to fill in at times it makes them a dynamic duo!