In seven seasons in San Diego, Vincent Jackson clashed so often with the Chargers that the team sometimes questioned aloud whether his great talent was worth having to put up with his prickly personality. But now that Jackson is with the Buccaneers, all the reports out of Tampa Bay indicate that everyone loves having him on the team.
The latest comments about Jackson’s positive influence in Tampa Bay come from Buccaneers receivers coach P.J. Fleck, who told the Tampa Bay Times that having Jackson around makes his job easier.
“It’s fun to watch him work because he’s such a good influence on the other guys with how professional he is,” Fleck said of Jackson. “He’s the first one in line, he’s the first one in meetings, he takes incredible notes. His notebook is immaculate. And it says a lot about him. If he keeps doing that, I think he’s going to get where he wants to be.”
Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano is known as a taskmaster who’s not going to tolerate a trouble-making player, but Fleck said that’s no problem for Jackson: According to Fleck, Jackson is just the kind of player Schiano likes.
“Coach Schiano always says, ‘If you’re a leader, you lead. You either lead positively or you need negatively. But you’re leading,’” Fleck said. “[Jackson] has definitely steered all those guys in a positive direction and they’re buying into what he’s selling. He’s just made the whole room better and he’ll continue to do that on a daily basis.”
On the field, there have never been any questions about Jackson’s abilities. If Jackson is as great off the field as the Bucs are indicating, he can be worth every sent of his $55 million contract.