New Bengal Jackson did his research

By Darrell Laurant  |   Tuesday, March 14, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Cincinnati Bengals
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In today's NFL, loyalties form and dissolve with the stroke of a pen. Thus on Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals quickly went from a "they" to a "we" as far as Dexter Jackson was concerned.

"Take away a play here and a play there, and we're in the hunt for a championship," Jackson said at a press conference after agreeing to a four-year, $7.6 million deal with the team that had the 28th-ranked defense in the NFL last season.

Safety was a major consideration for the Bengals during the offseason. Both 2005 starters at that position, Madieu Williams and Kim Herring, were plagued by injuries. The draft was one possibility for an upgrade, but what the team really needed was some experience and stability in its secondary.

"We didn't just fall into this guy," said Bengal defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan of Jackson. "We researched him and he researched us."

Jackson is perhaps best known for the 2003 Super Bowl, when he intercepted two passes against the Oakland Raiders and was named the game's MVP. He thrived in the famed "Tampa Bay Cover 2" defense.

The 6-foot, 203-pound Florida State product left the Bucs and signed a free agent contract with Arizona in 2003, but returned to Tampa Bay in 2004 when he was jettisoned by the Cardinals. Last season, Jackson had 45 tackles, an interception and a sack. His career line is 329 tackles, 14 interceptions and 3 1/2 sacks.

At the press conference, Jackson praised incumbent Bengal cornerbacks Tory James and Deltha O'Neal, adding: "Hopefully I can come in and help take away the big runs and the big passes."

Cincinnati also talked to free agent Lawyer Milloy before deciding on Jackson. With Williams and Herring hurt, Ifeanyi Ohalete and Kevin Kaesviharn were the starting safeties at season's end, with Anthony Mitchell the only viable reserve.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said of Jackson: "He'll be able to uplift us with his play on the field and in the classroom."

The Cincinnati Bengals, who started with $7.5 million under the cap, may now cut Herring loose. On Monday, they lost TE Matt Schobel to Philadelphia.
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