Steven Jackson Signs New Rams Contract

Fans of the St Louis Rams will be relieved at the return of No. 39 Steven Jackson who has just signed a contract for six seasons, and finally went in to training passing a medical examination. He agreed to a dual contract with the Rams, with an option for a three-year contract extension worth 29.3 million dollars, with $ 21 million guaranteed, or an extension of five years worth 49.3 million dollars, including huge increases in the fourth and fifth seasons.

Structurally the contract is an agreement over five seasons, to run until 2013. The last two years may be optionally cancelled by the Rams based on Jackson's performance, but coversely if he performs well he could escalate the contract to 49.3 million dollars. In other words.

Although the precise details of the contract clauses are not known, we are sure that Jackson must register stats similar to those recorded from 2005 to 2007 in the next three years to comply with the terms.

Jackson ran for 3576 yards and 26 touchdowns in the past three years, and caught 171 passes for 1396 yards and six touchdowns. In the form of his career, Jackson believes that can match those numbers and become a free agent in 2012.

After the 2011 campaign, Jackson would be only 28 years old and still have chance to enter the market as a free agent.

Jackson, a keystone of the offensive by the Rams, is entering the final year of his rookie contract he signed in 2004, and that was worth 7 million dollars over five seasons.

The head coach Scott Linehan said Jackson would be lining up for the the preseason game on Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens, but ultimately he would not play. He said that while Jackson was reported to be in good shape, he still needed to get match fit.

Jackson said that initial contarctual discussions had floundered under a "difference of philosophies". He revealed that negotiations begin again last week, and that Jackson booked a flight from Las Vegas to St. Louis on Wednesday night, when an agreement seemed imminent.

He had his third consecutive campaign of 1000 yards gained in 2007, despite missing four games through injury.