What’s Dexter Jackson (The Good One) Up To?

July 24, 2009 at 09:49am by Scott   •  1 Comment »

Former Buccaneer safety Dexter Jackson is currently an unrestricted free agent who sounds like he’s doing all right for a guy who is technically unemployed.

“I have a clothing store in Tampa — me and my wife,” the former Florida State safety said. “We have a lot of investment properties and investment things we’re doing. We’re doing really well.”

In a nutshell, Jackson is staying in shape and waiting for a call, but he sounds like he’ll be all right if it doesn’t happen. He’s 31 now and teams are shying away from him because of his age and history with injuries. It also sounds like he learned a couple hard lessons in his ten years in the league.

“I went to Arizona and had 107 tackles and seven picks … I strain my back in training camp and they release me,” Jackson said. “I understand what goes on. As far as Tampa, I was an MVP and still released. They just thank you for what you did and send you on.

“It’s a business. I understand that now. That’s part of the growing process of being in this game a long time. You see things happen. You might question different things but you just shrug your shoulders, and keep going.”

I’ve always liked Jackson and how he plays the game. The only thing that ever bothered me is how he took off for Arizona for the big paycheck instead of trying to repeat after the Super Bowl. But the Cardinals basically drove a dump truck full of money to his house, so it’s hard to blame him. And now he’s feeling the other side of that equation.

How hard would it be for Jackson to come to One Buc, make the new Dexter Jackson conveniently “disappear” and then just assume his position? Take his locker, his jersey number, everything, and just pretend like nothing happened. And then suggest to coaches (who haven’t been around that long and probably don’t remember what the new Jackson looks like) that he’d prefer to play safety since he sucks as a receiver and a returner. Would any of his teammates even say anything? I think this is totally doable.