Grady

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Free agent DT Grady Jackson did not sign a contract yesterday but will reportedly meet again with Giants officials today. Jackson, 33, did not pass a physical with the Falcons in the spring and has been unsigned since. The Giants are scheduled to meet with 34-year-old DT Brentson Buckner today

[the_idle_threat]

Grady gained a pound while you were reading this thread.

[Pack0514]

from KFFL.com

Falcons | Team agrees to terms with G. Jackson
Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:42:54 -0700

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with free agent DL Grady Jackson (Packers), according to his agent Angelo Wright. The contract is for three years and financial terms were undisclosed. He must still pass a physical and could practice Wednesday, Aug. 23.

[Zool]

From ESPN.com

ATLANTA -- Having taken care of their most pressing offensive need, with the three-team trade that landed them disgruntled Denver Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie on Tuesday night, the Atlanta Falcons a few hours later addressed one of their biggest defensive shortcomings.

And in a big way.

The Falcons late Tuesday reached agreement in principle with unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Grady Jackson on a three-year contract. Jackson, 33, is scheduled to arrive at the Falcons' complex on Wednesday for a physical examination. If there are no problems, the giant-sized tackle will sign the deal and immediately add much-needed bulk and a top-shelf run-stuffer to the undersized Atlanta defensive front.

Financial details were not immediately available. But earlier in the day, Jackson's agent, Angelo Wright, told ESPN.com that he was seeking a contract similar to the three-year, $6.5 million deal that free agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson signed with the Miami Dolphins last week. That contract will pay Wilkinson $1.3 million to $1.5 million in 2006 between bonuses and base salary.

If he is in even decent physical condition, Jackson could vie for the starting job at nose tackle on a unit that struggled to stop the run in 2005, when the Falcons statistically rated 26th in rushing yards surrendered. The Falcons had problems versus the run in their first two preseason games as well, and it was obvious that Atlanta needed to add some bulk to its interior.

In addition to Jackson, the Falcons in recent days discussed the possibility of signing free agent defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, released by the Carolina Panthers this spring.

Jackson met with Atlanta officials earlier in the free agent period, but the team backed off signing him when a physical examination indicated a possible heart problem. Subsequent examinations by an independent physician and by the medical staffs of other franchises interested in Jackson showed no problems.

The nine-year veteran, who has often fought the battle of the bulge in the past, apparently has his weight under control as well. Sources said that when Jackson auditioned for the New York Jets and the New York Giants last week, he checked in at a manageable 359 pounds, considerably less than he weighed only a couple months ago.

Jackson, who played for Green Bay the past three years, is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his nine-year league tenure, having started all 16 games for the Packers in 2005, when he registered a career-best 72 tackles. Despite his performance, the Packers made little effort to re-sign Jackson once he entered the unrestricted free-agent market.

The deal with the Falcons, if it is consummated, will reunite him with defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who held the same position in Green Bay during part of Jackson's tenure there.

Even at this late stage of his career, Jackson remains an interior defender capable of clogging things up in the middle and of playing effectively against the run. He often commands double-team blocking because of his size and strength, and that allows teammates to flow more readily to the ball. His stamina appeared to be much improved in 2005, and his 16 starts were his most since the 2001 season.

Earlier in his career, Jackson also provided some inside push in pass-rush situations, but he hasn't played on third down the last several seasons and has just two sacks in the past two campaigns.

In 123 games, including 80 starts, Jackson has recorded 431 tackles, 32½ sacks, nine forced fumbles, seven recoveries and 24 passes defensed.

Jackson began his career with the Oakland Raiders in 1997, when they made him a sixth-round draft pick from Knoxville College. He has served stints in Oakland (1997-2001), New Orleans (2002) and Green Bay (2003-05).

The Falcons have one of the most effective "under" tackles in the league, in Rod Coleman, but have had problems this summer filling the nose tackle spot. Former starter Chad Lavalais has fallen out of favor with the Atlanta coaches and his roster spot could be in jeopardy. While the staff likes youngster Darrell Shropshire, and feels Antwan Lake and rookie Tommy Jackson have promise, too, Jackson is a proven commodity and a clear upgrade.

[CaliforniaCheez]

360 pounds is "considerably less" than what he weighed a few weeks ago.

To think at the begining of the 2005 he stormed Thompson's office wanting a contract that matched his inflated opinion of his skills.

It has to be a one year deal disguised as a 3.

No compensatory pick.

[KYPack]

I thought Grady flunked a physical w/ Atl in the spring.

Grady is a puzzle. Nobody wants him, but he's one of the best DT's in the business.

He's a coaches nightmare, bad attitude, out of shape, but he plays his ass off when the lights go on. I wish we still had the slob.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I bet we could get him for a vet minimum since no body wants him.

[]{ilr]3]

He thinks he is a golden boy and deserves top pay for the position. He is just to unreliable with his wieght and sometimes his play.

Maybe the Falcons told him to get off his fat ass and get in shape and they would give him anouther shot since there was time before the beginning of the season to show he wasnt just dead wieght. I bet he still fails.

[woodbuck27]

I bet we could get him for a vet minimum since no body wants him.

Will Kendrick Allen be OK? If not, then why not consider that?

I wasn't disappointed in Grady Jackson in Green Bay. Tough man to go through. I thought he liked it with us, but for the Final Contract "Big Payday thing" that seems futile now.

He would be behind with us, but he came in just at the start of the season last year and played decent. He knows OUR Defense.

I wonder what his conditioning is?

We'll not likely see Grady in "the Green n Gold" again but it's intriguing.

GO PACKERS ! OUR FUTURE IS GOOD !!

[Creepy]

He had a good year lastyear due to rotation. If the Falcons expect him to be there 50% of the plays, his knees will buckle before game 8. IMO, jackosn is injured before mid-season.

[Guiness]

KY put together the best description I've seen of the guy. Truth is, he can play. If there is any concern about Allen, he would be ok to bring in, as long as he understands he's a backup behind Pickett and Cole. I don't think he'd disappoint in that role.

He's a coach's nightmare in that they can't get him to play to his potential, but I don't think I ever heard anything about him being a disruptive force to the team.

I wonder whatever happened to his repossesed couch?

[Cheesehead Craig]

Jackson, who played for Green Bay the past three years, is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his nine-year league tenure, having started all 16 games for the Packers in 2005, when he registered a career-best 72 tackles. Despite his performance, the Packers made little effort to re-sign Jackson once he entered the unrestricted free-agent market.
Gee, could it have been that he was asking at the time, what - $4-5M/yr for 4 yrs? I'm sure the Pack would have tried to keep him if he wasn't demanding the moon.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Goodbye Grady





Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Henderson watches from sidelines; Jackson signs with Falcons

Cornerbacks Patrick Dendy and Mike Hawkins participated in the early drills Wednesday afternoon in pads, but after the stretching period, both players went back to working out with the other injured Packers.

** Fullback William Henderson watched Wednesday’s practice from the sidelines wearing shorts. Henderson underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to miss at least three weeks of action.

** Former Packers nose tackle Grady Jackson signed with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.

-- Rob Demovsky, reporter, Green Bay Press-Gazette, and Dylan Tomlinson, reporter, The Post-Crescent, Appleton

[oregonpackfan]

"Checked in at a manageable 359 pounds?"

Since when is 359 pounds a "manageable" weight for anyone?

Unless Jackson gets his weight under control, be it in or out of football, he may not live long enough to see age 45.


OPF

[Kiwon]

After what the Pack did to Atlanta last weekend signing Grady must have been more of a priority for the Falcons.

[green_bowl_packer]

KYPack
I wish we still had the slob.


Pretty f'n funny!

Good thing for Grady black is slimming!

[pbmax]

C'mon everybody, just take a deep breath and realize Grady Jackson is no Logan Mankins and won't lead anybody to the Super Bowl.

He would be a tremendous help as a FA pickup if we were close to a championship.

Since we aren't that close, why spend the money and why not let someone else play and see what we have got? See what develops.

If we discover someone can do it, great. If we find we have jack, then there are no delusions and we can search for someone else.

Grady is the very definition of stop gap.