Steven Jackson's Second Pro Bowl Selection a Well-Deserved Honor

ST. LOUIS — A day after Steven Jackson was selected to his second Pro Bowl, the Rams running back spoke to the media about the honor.

"It says a lot from my peers, the coaches around the NFL and even the fans for them to consider me one of the best at the position," Jackson said Wednesday at Rams Park. "It really means a lot to me. I put in a lot of hard work in the offseason. I surprised the guys, the offensive unit, with a gift to show my appreciation of all of the hard work that they put in as well."

Jackson leads the NFC in rushing with 1,353 yards, good for second in the NFL behind only Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, who has 1,872. Jackson’s 1,675 yards from scrimmage ranks fifth in the NFL.

So it should come as no surprise that Jackson was chosen as one of three NFC running backs to play in the Jan. 31 game at Landshark Stadium in Miami.

"A lot of people said that I should have expected that," Jackson said. "It’s one of those things that I don’t like to count the eggs before they hatch. I was just really happy when I finally got the phone call."

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said he was "very excited and happy for him, proud of him, excited for the whole offense really in that regard."

"I really liked the things he said about his teammates," Spagnuolo added. "He’s just a class guy and I always held him in that regard, that kind of caliber player, and I am glad that the rest of the league, the fans and the people who voted recognize him as such."

Jackson has been the offense for a 1-14 Rams team that ranks 27th in total offense and passing, and is dead last in scoring. He’s done so behind a shuffled offensive line and while battling a nagging back injury that caused him to miss last week’s 31-10 loss at Arizona. It was the first game he’s missed all season. Just once, 2006, has Jackson played all 16 games of an NFL season, and that year was the best season of his six-year career. He ran for 1,528 yards in 2006 and 13 scores while amassing another 806 yards on 90 receptions and three touchdowns. Those numbers earned him his first Pro Bowl nod.

Jackson entered this season as an embattled player who publicly criticized both the organization and the fans, but grew into a leadership role for one of the youngest teams in the league. Kyle Boller, one of three starting quarterbacks the Rams have used this season, said Tuesday’s Pro Bowl selection was a well-deserved honor for the now more mature Jackson.

"I think he’s had a great year and (he’s) a hardworking guy," Boller said. "We’ve been in a lot of games. It’s not like we’ve gotten blown out every game. I definitely think that the team is making progress."

Jackson is unsure if he will be able to play in the Pro Bowl, but wants to. Right now his focus is getting back on the field for Sunday’s season finale against San Francisco, and former teammate Isaac Bruce, at the Edward Jones Dome. Jackson admitted Tuesday on his Twitter page that the season’s been a struggle, and reiterated that on Wednesday.

"I will remember this season as a trying season," Jackson said. "A season that I think we as a team overcame a lot. No question what we’re building. Everyone is playing hard. Everyone is lobbying for next year. I think now we have a core of good guys. We just got to go and bring in some other guys to help us.

"All I can do is get myself ready for hopefully another successful season. I trust and believe that things that need to get addressed will get addressed."

The Rams also voted on a pair of team honors this week. Ted Crews, the Rams’ Senior Director of Communications, was given the team’s hero award. Defensive end James Hall, who missed Sunday’s loss at Arizona because of the birth of his first child, received the team’s Ed Block Courage Award.

"I think that is a neat award," Spagnuolo said of Hall’s distinction. "I think it says a lot about the person that fought through something, whether it was an injury or some kind of adversity, and I am happy that James was the guy this year. There were certainly other guys who were very worthy of that particular award, but James will be our representative this year and we are proud that he is."

This article can also be found at The Alton Telegraph. (Published Dec. 30)