ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Fred Jackson was off his crutches on Wednesday, able to walk by himself for short distances, and still disappointed that his season-ending injury didn’t allow him to go the distance with his Bills teammates this year.
“To be cut off to a 10 game season is not what you want,” Jackson said. “I was able to make some plays while I was out there but I feel like there was a lot of football left for me to make plays out there.”
Jackson’s impact on the Bills was more substantial than any other player on the team. So substantial, that the week following his season-ending leg injury, Jackson remained atop the AFC Pro Bowl balloting race at running back.
His work this year (934 yards rushing, 442 receiving, 6 touchdowns) easily qualified him as the Bills’ most valuable player. Now, the issue is whether the Bills are willing to re-work Jackson’s contract while the running back has one year remaining on his deal. Jackson’s current contract paid him a base salary of $1.75 million in 2011 with a base of $1.83 million in 2012. He’s made it known that he’d like a new deal.
At 31 years old, Jackson is not considered a young player, and admitted that the injury may have hurt his chances at an extension.
“I felt like I did as much as I could and that hopefully will take care of itself. It’s not something I’m going to worry about right now. I put faith in Buddy (Nix) and that’s all I can do. He’s a man of his word so I’ll have faith in him and see what happens.”
