Friday, March 22, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Jackson’s weight problems limits teams’ interest

Oakland DT Grady Jackson is coming off a solid season in which he made 69 tackles and four sacks as the Raiders’ top defensive lineman. However, Jackson, who’s listed at 6-2, 325 pounds, has struggled to keep his weight down this offseason and, as an unrestricted free agent, that has reduced his attractiveness to prospective teams.

Buchsbaum: Raiders DT Grady Jackson is getting very little interest and very little play and may have to settle for way under his asking price. The problem is Jackson is his own worst enemy. He allowed himself to get out of shape in the offseason and when teams see his chubby, flabby, 360-pound body, they get instantly turned off. They also are troubled by the fact that his shoulders may not be as healthy as they would like.

Strahan turns down Giants contract extension

Coming off a record-setting season with 22.5 sacks, Giants DE Michael Strahan is attempting to break New York’s bank for a contract extension. Apparently, the Giants have offered a more-than-generous contract extension to Strahan, but the 30-year-old Pro Bowler wants more. The resulting dispute could hurt team chemistry. RB Tiki Barber has already spoken out against Strahan’s demands.

Buchsbaum: Michael Strahan says the Giants aren’t committed to winning. But it’s really Strahan who is undermining their efforts to win. With his astronomical contract demands and refusal to redo his deal to create more cap room, he’s making it impossible for the Giants to add players and causing them to lose players. The Giants made Strahan a tremendous offer — a seven-year, $58 million contract with a $17 million signing bonus, including $10 million to be paid the first year. That means with his first year’s salary, he’d be at least guaranteed $11 million that he could put in the bank right now. Yet he turned it down and says the Giants aren’t committed to winning. I really find it quite objectionable, and I never thought Strahan was that type of person.

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2001 - 2002 Season