When running back Steven Jackson signed with the Falcons last month, it wasn’t hard to find people speculating about his motivations.
They gave him a three-year deal, but it wasn’t the length of the commitment that most people pointed to as the reason for Jackson’s move to the Falcons. It was the chance to play for a team that advanced to the NFC Championship Game after years of doing his business for a Rams team that never made the playoffs after his rookie year.
Jackson pretty much confirmed his motivations at his introductory press conference with the Falcons, but the question came up again during an interview with 790 The Zone. Jackson made it clear that he’s not just looking to make it to the postseason with his new team.
“You will not get anyone on the market — in the draft or free agency — that’s more hungry than I am and that has more to prove than I do. I want to go out on top,” Jackson said, via Jay Adams of the team’s website. “Let’s be frank: I didn’t come here to make it to the playoffs. You guys have done that consecutively over the years. I’m here to help be a part of the puzzle, be a part of something that you guys have built over the years. I’m just a hope and a dream, but we frankly have the same hope and dream.”
On paper, the match of Jackson’s desire for postseason success and the Falcons’ need for a more dynamic runner than Michael Turner looks like one made in heaven. But, as Jackson astutely points out, that’s all hopes and dreams until the season actually starts.