Not every player-team separation has to be acrimonious.
On Thursday, running back Steven Jackson reached a deal with the Falcons, ending a nine-season run with St. Louis.
The Rams responded with a public show of respect, with owner Stan Kroenke issuing a statement thanking Jackson for his work on and off the field in St. Louis.
“For nearly a decade, Steven Jackson served as an inspiration for his St. Louis Rams teammates and our fans,” Kroenke said, per the club. “Off the field, his generosity and unselfishness improved the lives of many families in the St. Louis community. We will always be thankful for his contributions to our team and region and wish him success moving forward.”
Jackson, via his verified Twitter account, thanked his fans and sent a message of his own to the Rams.
Wrote Jackson: “To the entire ST. LOUIS RAMS organization, THANK YOU for believing in me & allowing me to be an integral part of this team for so many years.”
Steven Jackson had a sterling career in St. Louis, producing even in tough times for the organization. It’s nice to see a polite parting of the ways.