Running back Steven Jackson had some interesting things to say in a recent article written by YAHOO! Sports columnist Michael Silver about the direction of the Rams and their fans.
“It’s a one-year bid for everybody,” Jackson says. “It could be Scott’s last year, and my last year, and even the franchise is in jeopardy – the team could get sold and leave St. Louis. There’s a lot riding on this year, and we all know that. Just as much as the Rams need me, I need them.”
“I predicted a number based off of a perfect season,” Jackson says. “I learned something – things will come up. Two things killed me: My offensive line was just decimated, and our receivers didn’t block. You look at Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson or anyone who has a ton of yards, and those guys on the perimeter block. For me, I wasn’t only looking at eight in the box, but if I happened to get through the line and out to the perimeter, the defenders were all over me.”
When Jackson flashes back to a pair of dismal defeats to Green Bay and Pittsburgh last December at the Edward Jones Dome, he doesn’t hold back, saying, “You’ve got to love those Rams fans who showed their loyalty by selling their tickets to Packers and Steelers fans, so half the people in the stadium were rooting against us. It was like playing road games. We ran out of the tunnel and got booed. It was ridiculous. I was livid. In St. Louis, it’s one of two things. They either love me or they (expletive) hate me. I’m not a diva, but if I’m pissed, (the Rams’ PR staff) won’t let me talk, ’cause they’re scared of what might come out of my mouth.”
Hmm. It’s good when athletes are honest and speak their minds – it’s rather refreshing. But nothing good ever comes out of calling out your teammates. Jackson might have hit the nail on the head when he said, “the franchise is in jeopardy” but it’s better to keep things in house.
And I’m all for team loyalty, but I don’t blame Rams fans for selling their tickets after the team started off 0-8 – especially when families have to take out a second mortgage on their house just to go to the games nowadays.
