Getty ImagesIn San Diego, Vincent Jackson had contract disputes and arrests and a suspension and earned a reputation as a player who was so difficult to deal with that he was barely worth his spectacular talent. But in Tampa Bay, Jackson has transformed into a veteran leader.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams told the Tampa Tribune that as soon as Jackson signed his free-agent contract with the Buccaneers, he immediately established himself as the leader of the group and a sounding board for the younger receivers on the team. Williams said the group of young receivers who were already with the Bucs have all adopted Jackson as their leader.
“We still get advice from each other, too, but it’s mostly coming from him now,” Williams said of Jackson. “He’s been showing us a lot of what he’s seen throughout his long career and his 1,000-yard seasons and his Pro Bowl seasons.”
Williams said Jackson has been the person making sure all the young receivers are working hard.
“He’s been letting us know what we’re going to see [from opposing defenses], and he’s basically been telling me to just keep working on my game,” Williams said. “You can’t ever think you’ve mastered it. No matter what, you have to keep on working on it. If you catch a pass 1,000 times, he wants you to catch it 1,005 times. So just keep working on my game is basically what I’ve learned from him.”
There have never been any doubts about Jackson on the field on Sundays in the fall. Now Jackson is becoming a consummate professional all year long.
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I really hope nobody else in my Fantasy league read this…
I’m sorry, could you repeat that? I thought I heard you say “Vincent Jackson a veteran leader in Tampa Bay”…
That’s why the DUI issue with V-Jax was a load of crap!!!!!
He lost enough because of those occurrences and that’s why the need to worry about it was bullcrap!!!
Sounds like the anti-Keyshawn. Welcome to Tampa, VJax!!
Next he’ll be teaching those receivers how to go about holding out. And also how to go about whining about your contract.
I’m not buying it.
Until proven wrong, I buy into the Jackson assessment. That kind of veteran influence is worth every penny of the admission price. TB just has not had enough of that from anyone. Go Bucs!
B-jax is a selfish punk only cares about money !! If that were not trure he wouldnt bitch bout his contract
He was stuck on a loser before, San Diego is cursed. Phil Rivers on the Giants, Steelers or Cowboys would have at least one Ring by now. That team had the players and CONTINUALLY was one-and-out. If Jackson was a Niner, they’d have won the big one last year. Best of luck to him, glad he’s out of my Division.
Naw he’s gonna teach all the youngsters how to get pulled over before a playoff game and the fine art of kicking a red flag during a playoff game.
Haha, you know your lazy when VJax is the guy being the motivator. Can’t wait for week 1 when Cam steps on their throats again and makes them quit on their coach just like last year.
Amazing how much happier he is now tht he’s not playing for the “Lord of No Rings.”
I wonder how long till the other Bucs receivers start complaining about their contracts then
The Carolina Panties fan who joked about the Bucs quitting on their coach should be worried about a motivated Bucs team who are properly coached. If Schiano is everything he is supposed to be the Bucs will steamroll the Panties and the Black Tebow.
I must admit as a skins fan I hoped we wouldn’t sign vjax. that being said, if this is true… good for him. now that being said, I hope they still suck this year. I do believe the coaching staff will help fix the problems of last year and the offseason seemed to go well for them, but as a fan of an opposing nfc team. I would like to see them fall short.
Lets go V Jaxx ready for a BIG season
sportsmeccabi says:
May 20, 2012 5:51 PM
Haha, you know your lazy when VJax is the guy being the motivator. Can’t wait for week 1 when Cam steps on their throats again and makes them quit on their coach just like last year.
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Yeah, and you know you’re a delusional panthers fan when you think lightning will strike twice. Cant’ wait to see the look on your smug faces after NFC south defenses get a full offseason to prepare for a novelty cam newton offense. Btw, how many rings do the panthers have?
vtdcfan says:
May 20, 2012 6:24 PM
I must admit as a skins fan I hoped we wouldn’t sign vjax. that being said, if this is true… good for him. now that being said, I hope they still suck this year. I do believe the coaching staff will help fix the problems of last year and the offseason seemed to go well for them, but as a fan of an opposing nfc team. I would like to see them fall short.
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Believe the rest of the NFL fans when we say we are used to seeing the redskins fall short. It’s to be expected just like the sunrise every morning.
Vincent Jackson is a huge pick up for the Bucs. Defenses have to respect his game. The other receivers will have plenty of chances to shine. Just what Josh Freeman needed.
VJax will provide veteran leadership on how to be all about the money.
Good to know he’s not just getting fat and lazy after getting paid. It seemed like a legitimate concern with him. And that’s a team that really needs leaders on offense.
Getting out of San Diego apparently does wonders for a bad attitude.
A Vet of the DUI game.
Easy to be a “leader” in May, let’s see how great an influence he is when they’re headed for another top 10 pick.
Man.. If you read all the way down, there is so many haters it’s barely funny anymore. And the skins and panthers fans should check themselves before talking about anyone else. Your both gonna have a blast watching your teams fall apart like they always do.
So where was this wonderful attitude all those years he was in San Diego?
Bucs finally got a receiver who can stretch the field, but he’s an older receiver with maybe 3 to 4 yrs left in the tank and that’s stretching it..not sure if he’s a good role model for younger receivers..we shall see Vjax
San Diego seems like a team that should do well, good QB, great weather. Yet players can’t wait to get away from it. Love to know what goes on behind the scenes there. Seems to be a lot of disgruntled players.
if this is legit good for him, but im skeptical. it shouldn’t take much to be a leader in that locker room, especially after last years embarrassment of a season.
Too bad he went to one of the worst teams in the league, with nobody to throw him the ball. But, he got paid, so I can’t fault him for that.
Amazing what a change of scenery can do.
As a Charger fan… a fanitic… a homer even… VJ is a bad@$$ WR. His off the field crap, even damaging to his image… never affected him on Sunday. I’m pis$ed he’s gone… I wish him luck, and hope be blows it up in Tampa… oh he will.
We have to make due with what we have in replacement (Eddie Royal/Robert Meachem) and I feel ok saying we both made out ok on this deal.
I’ll miss the guy greatly, but Rivers will make the best out of the two new guys in town.
Go Chargers! Git Sum.
Too bad for Jackson, he’ll have Freeman throwing to him instead of Rivers.
Kinda reminds me of when John Jefferson left SD for the big money in Green Bay. How did that one work out?
que se vaya a la verga este puto! hahaha
The greatest part of all of this is that the bucs are still gonna suck
theBucs may have sucked last season, but there is a new sherrif in town… AND HE DON’T TAKE NO CRAP!
GO BUCS!!!!
Haynesworth was a leader in Tampa.
has any team in the nfl had a better off-season than the bucs? they’ve made scary progress. they’re gonna be pretty goood. and i’m not one of the delusional panther fans who think carolina is going to easily dominate the nfc south. but it’s childish to act like cam is a fluke.
jimthebuilder27 says:
May 20, 2012 5:57 PM
Amazing how much happier he is now tht he’s not playing for the “Lord of No Rings.”
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Actually, there are about 13 other NFL teams that have “no rings” as well. To quote that played out cliche that has no weight demonstrates that you need to build up your i.q. by about 27 points, “jim”.
I am amazed that people are such haters… such comments as:
“The Bucs are still gonna suck”
“One of the worst teams in the league”
“The greatest part of all of this is that the bucs are still gonna suck”
“Too bad he went to one of the worst teams in the league, with nobody to throw him the ball. But, he got paid”
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Does anyone of these people actually watch the Bucs play?
I’ve been a Bucs fan for years, since I was old enough to watch football… With that being said, this is what I’ve witnessed:
The Buccaneers had one of the absolute worst coaches I’ve ever seen, especially the OC… They signed a new coach. Freeman did excellent in his rookie year with Numbers mirroring Dan Marino… (YES, HE DID) Last year, he had absolutely no line because of injuries. They started off good, but, with the injuries on the line, and poor coaching, they lost their last 10 games. It’s hard to throw the ball when you only have 3 seconds to find a reciever, and every single one of your receivers had 0-2 years of NFL Experience.
With the signings they’ve had in this off-season, one of the best Offensive Lineman in the league, him alone will make a difference.
V-Jax will open up Mike Williams who is a freak of nature, both will have stallar seasons this year, and Mark My Words, Freeman will be in the Pro Bowl this year (if there is one).
If the Defensive line shows up, the Bucs will be deep in the playoffs. The Buccaneers will win their division this year.
I wisht the Bucs well to a point. VJ has been all show and no go the past couple of years due to injury. The fact is he hasn’t been a gamechanger for two seasons.
Hell have 3 monster games a year, be pretty good in 8 games, and hell dissapear in 5.
His problems have and will always be off the field. One more dui and hes suspended for a year. How much of a leader will he b then?
Vincent Jackson is a talented 65 catch per year receiver. He’s fairly soft spoken, and hasn’t been in trouble for a few years (which is good). But one thing for sure, he is NOT a leader.
He’s a big “guy” that wants to get paid, but doesn’t want to be “the man” and he has terrible agents.
I’m sorry to say but you Buc’s fan will be let down as he’s not a #1 WR.
ALSO: he’s not a YAC guy either (only a jump ball and route running specialist). He can be tackled by any little guy…