RB Fred Jackson
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Q: Congratulations, what is your reaction?
A: I'm extremely excited. I want to thank Russ [Brandon], Doug [Whaley], the late, great Mr. Wilson for the opportunity to be able to play here. Every player's dream is to be able to play with one team for their entire career, and this extension gives me the opportunity to do that. I've had a lot of support with me throughout the years, obviously you see my kids are here, they're always here. My wife has done a tremendous job supporting me, doing everything she can do to make sure I'm able to come out here and compete with these young bucks, so I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to continue to come out here and play and get this thing turned around. Hopefully we can do that sooner rather than later.
Q: How do you do it? You're one of the oldest backs in the league, how do you stay young?
A: I just love to play this game. Usually when guys get to be my age they're just about ready to kind of shut it down and not come out here and get beat up like we do at training camp, but I wake up every day and I love it. I'm blessed to have an opportunity to play for a team like the Buffalo Bills and I try to take advantage of that whenever I can. I think the number one thing that keeps me motivated is the love for this game and I don't want that to end anytime soon, so I'm going to come out here and continue to work and show that I can continue to compete at a high level.
Q: How do you feel at this camp, now at age 33?
A: Better than I have in a long time, that's the number one thing I was talking to my agent about. I was telling him I haven't felt this good in a long time. So, hopefully I can continue to feel like that and get into this season and make some plays for our team, that way it's all worth it, them giving me this extension.
Q: Why do you think you feel so good?
A: Well one of the main reasons is that I'm not coming off of any major prolonged injuries. I had a tremendous offseason with our strength and conditioning coaches, I think they did a great job getting me to where I am today, so I've got to give those guys a lot of credit. I'm hungry and motivated. I think a renewed sense of getting this thing turned around, with some of the moves we made in the offseason putting the pieces around us I think that's got to have a lot of guys excited, and I'm one of them.
Q: Do you ever think about the ownership status?
A: Not at all, there's nothing I can do about it. All I can focus on is playing football. Our job is to come out here and win games and give this city something to be excited about. We can't control who the new owner may be. You won't catch any guys in that locker room focusing on that. If we're focusing on that we're not focusing on the task at hand.
Q: It's rare that a professional athlete plays his whole career in one city. It's looking likely that's going to happen for you, is that important for you to be able to accomplish?
A: Absolutely, that's one of the number one goals. That's why signing this extension is so special. It gives me that opportunity, I'm one step closer to being able to finish my career in Buffalo and that's what I've always wanted to do.
Q: Are you glad you were able to get this deal done before the season started?
A: Yes, it's something you don't want to have to focus on. I'm glad that it's done. Now I'm happy just going out and playing football and trying to make plays for this team.
Q: Kids come into this league and think the goal is getting to their second contract, you're getting close to double digit contracts now…
A: Yeah, it's one of those things, you always want to know what that second contracts going to be like. To be able to say you've done an extension multiple times is something you can be proud of, it means you're doing something right. I just need to continue to work at it and continue to produce on the field and we'll see what happens next.
Q: Did you have to have any minor clean ups from your knee injury last year?
A: Nothing at all, I didn't have to focus on that. Our training staff did a tremendous job getting me ready to play week in and week out. There were no surgeries needed. I've been blessed enough in this league that I've yet to need to have surgery. Hopefully we can keep it that way and I can continue to stay healthy.
Q: Do you have a number in mind for the number of years you want to continue to play?
A: I want to continue to play as long as possible. If I can get three or four more years I'll be happy, but we'll see what happens.
