Cleveland Browns retain linebacker D’Qwell Jackson on new multimillion dollar deal -NFL News
The Cleveland Browns have retained their middle linebacker, D'Qwell Jackson, on a multiyear contract, which completes the successful return of the player from a series of injuries that had almost ended his career a couple of years ago.
Jackson was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the trade deadline of March 13, 2012. The extension of the deal has helped him and the team to avoid such a probability.
Terms of the deal are not available as yet, but certain reports have quoted the figure of $42.5 million as its value. This includes $19 million in guaranteed money in addition to regular roster bonuses in the future.
Now the player looks back at the situation he had been through due to the injuries and cannot believe that his National Football League (NFL) career was on the verge of expiration.
He was unable to control his emotions after confirmation of the new deal that completes and rewards the successful rehabilitation process.
The player said:
"At that point, being at the time which I thought was the lowest of the low, I was able to get out of it. Not being able to play football would not have been the end of the world, but that's my life right now and I was going to put my best foot forward doing
it."
Jackson had been in talks around the possibility of a franchise tag, which could have doubled his pay from the last year of $4.5 million, but the Browns have now decided to award the player a multiyear deal, to help him to progress in his career at Browns.
After sitting out almost two entire seasons due to torn muscles in his chest, Jackson returned to Browns in 2011, and proved his fitness and form straightway.
Browns have said to be pleased with the latest contractual arrangement with the player, and according to the president, Mike Holmgren, Jackson’s stay will help them groom younger players on the side.
The president said:
"The component every successful team needs is leadership from players that the younger players look up too. By having D'Qwell sign, we have one of the pieces of that puzzle in place because there's not a finer guy on our team as a person and you guys (media)
all know what a great player he is."
Having done with Jackson’s deal, Browns have started looking on the available options to retain kicker, Phil Dawson.
A discussion around assigning him the franchise tag for the second straight year has emerged, but there is no confirmation from the team if they are going to exercise the option.
He, otherwise, stands an opportunity of becoming an unrestricted free agency after March 13.
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