Tanard Jackson started the first two games of the season at free safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he won’t play again this year.
Jackson has been suspended indefinitely for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He’ll be eligible to apply for reinstatement in a year.
It’s the second suspension in as many years for Jackson, who was also suspended for the first four games of the 2009 season. At that time he vowed to make changes in his life.
“I’m definitely disappointed in myself,” Jackson said in August of 2009, when the four-game suspension was announced. “I let my team down, obviously, and I’ve let a lot of people down. The fans - I’d like to apologize to them for the decisions I’ve made that got me into this situation. . . . I definitely have some off-the-field issues that I have to address for the well being of myself and for the well being of this football team.”
In announcing the suspension today, Bucs GM Mark Dominik said, “Tanard is a talented young man whom we hope is able to use this year to put his troubles behind him and ultimately return a stronger man and player. It’s up to Tanard whether the team and our fans eventually realize his considerable promise.”
Other than that four-game suspension, Jackson has started every single game for the Buccaneers since they drafted him in 2007. He’s obviously a talented player, and at age 25 he still has time to get his life together. Here’s hoping he does.