CB Marlin Jackson lands in the Eagle Nest

By Gayle Saunders
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It’s a done deal and Marlin Jackson is a Philadelphia Eagle. The Eagles were not to concerned about his recently surgically repaired knees. It seems that they are very aggresive in finding a replacement for Brian Dawkins this off season. The front office signed Jackson to a two-year contract Wednesday, but didn’t disclose financial terms.

In 2005 Jackson was a first-round draft pick by the Colts, He is coming off two season-ending knee injuries, which resulted in him missing the second half of 2008 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, where he returned in 2009 and tore his ACL in his left knee during a November practice. Jackson has played cornerback throughout most of his careerr, although he will have an opportunity to win the starting free safety job in Philadelphia.

“Nothing is promised,” Jackson said. “I have to earn it. I played free safety my junior year at college and started eight games there my second year in the NFL. I’m very comfortable in it. I always played a physical corner. Physicality is nothing new to me. I’m very instinctive and aggressive. I can bring a lot of positives.”

The Eagles definitly had issues at free safety this year. Second-year proQuintin Demps, roookie Victor Harris and veteran Sean Jones were exposed throughout the season at that position in 2009.

Jackson had 284 tackles and four interceptions in 56 career games with the Colts. He had a visit with Baltimore Ravens before coming to Philadelphia and was scheduled to meet with the New York Jets.

“The most appealing thing is this is a winning franchise,” Jackson said. “That’s important to me. I came from a winning franchise. The opportunity to play free safety is very appealing. This defense is very aggressive.”
Jackson joins an Eagles secondary that includes Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, Pro Bowl strong safety Quintin Mikell and longtime starting cornerback Sheldon Brown.