Fred Jackson Contract Looks Good Now, but Will It Look Good Later?

The Buffalo Bills are clearly not content with their 5-2 start to the 2011 season, and they've gone to some great lengths to prove it.

By signing running back Fred Jackson to a long-term deal, the Bills proved that they're in this for the long haul. But was it the right call?

This has nothing to do with giving big money to a running back. While the running game might yield less attention, it is no less valuable to an NFL offense now than it ever has been. Teams like the Texans, 49ers, Ravens and others have proven that the threat of the run is a powerful weapon to have in an offensive arsenal, and really helps out your quarterback in the process.

Make no mistake about Jackson's value to the team, either: He does it all for the Bills in the backfield and is is one of the most well-rounded backs in the NFL. From blitz protection to pass-catching to running between and outside the tackles, Jackson can do it all effectively. Maintaining long-term versatility—that's building a team.

The production they got from C.J. Spiller was similar on paper, but Jackson is so versatile that he's hard to replace. Depth at running back is ideal anyway because of the wear and tear at the position, as the Bills learned last season. 

Motivation won't be an issue for Jackson, but no one expected it to be—he has played with a chip on his shoulder since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

If there was going to be an issue, it would have been money. Whether it would have become an issue is another question entirely, but Jackson was set to make just $1.955 million in base salary this coming season, according to Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog.

Jackson is undoubtedly coming off a superb season, albeit a truncated one, but his age at the time of the extension does warrant some discussion. 

He was on pace to finish second in yards from scrimmage and was clearly outperforming his contract before he was put on season-ending injured reserve. A broken leg may not be the death knoll for Jackson, but it's just more tread off those 31-year-old tires. 

But those tires should still have some tread left.

Entering his sixth year in the league, Jackson has just 817 carries and 992 total touches. To put that in perspective, Falcons running back Michael Turner had 911 touches from 2008 to 2010, leading the league in carries twice in the process (missed five games in 2009 with injury), and showed no signs of slowing down in 2011. 

The two-year deal has Jackson with the Bills through the 2014 season, when he'll be 34 years old. In the first two years of his contract, Jackson will make an average of $4.35 million per year.

While Jackson wouldn't be the first, and likely won't be the last, running back to perform well into his 30's, there haven't been many to perform well deep into their 30's—and the list of those who have is comprised of some of the best running backs in league history. 

Signing Jackson keeps one of the team's most productive players of the past few years around for a few more, but whether or not he can be productive for a few more years will determine the ultimate outlook on this contract extension.

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