Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A Tough Decision Regarding Safety Tanard Jackson's Future?

You haven’t heard form him. You haven’t seen him. You may have forgotten about him altogether after his 2010 suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy for a third time shouldered him into exile.

But Tanard Jackson is back.

Well, for the moment, anyway.

Jackson, much to the delight of his teammates, attended Buccaneers voluntary mini-camp at the IMG Performance Institute in Bradenton, Fla. Wednesday.

Due to the lockout and the lack of a collective bargaining agreement, the normal rules of Jackson’s one-year suspension that would prohibit him from participating in any team workouts do not apply.

Jackson was handed a one-year ban after Week 2 in 2010 and is eligible for reinstatement at the end of July. This was after his four-game suspension to start the 2009 season stemming from his second substance-abuse violation.

Possibly on the verge of returning to the Buccaneer secondary, the free safety is just one strike away from a long-term suspension and perhaps total banishment, but that shouldn’t stop the Buccaneers from welcoming him back with open arms.

Jackson became a starter immediately after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. In 46 career games, he has 204 tackles, eight interceptions and five forced fumbles, including his 2009 campaign that saw him garner 71 tackles, five picks, two forced fumbles and two touchdowns despite playing in just 12 games.

He appeared to be the future at free safety for the Buccaneers before suspension made him a thing of the past.

In his stead, the Buccaneers turned to veteran Sean Jones, who recorded 74 tackles and an interception in 2011, and rookie Cody Grimm, who notched 57 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown in 11 games before hitting injured reserve with a broken fibula.

He’s expected to be ready when the 2011 season starts.

The Buccaneers also have Corey Lynch in the fold at safety, who, although he’s most famous for blocking Michigan’s game-winning field goal to seal the Appalachian State upset in 2007, recorded 32 tackles and an interception in 2010.

He started just five games but saw the field in all 16. He’s just 26 years old while Grimm is just 24.

The Buccaneers also drafted safety Ahmad Black out of Florida in the fifth round of this year’s draft.

Jackson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, as he did not earn a year of service for 2010 due to suspension. If reinstated for 2011, he will be playing for a new contract in Tampa Bay.

Whether or not that is motivation enough for the talented safety, who will be 26 when the season starts, to keep in line with league policy remains to be seen.

The Buccaneers were seventh in the league against the pass in 2010, allowing 201 yards per game through the air. They were also third in the league in plays of 20-plus yards allowed with just 37 but 18th in plays of 40-plus yards with nine.

The Buccaneers could certainly use Jackson’s presence in the secondary, and given the level success at the position and the experience gained by Grimm and Lynch as youngsters in 2010, safety could be a much deeper position in 2011 than many originally thought.

“Tanard is a talented young man whom we hope is able to use this year to put his troubles behind him and ultimately return a strong man and player,” general manager Mark Dominik said after Jackson’s 2010 suspension. “It’s up to Tanard whether the team and our fans eventually realize his considerable promise.”

Does Jackson deserve that chance in 2011? It’s a nation of second chances and even third chances. But fourth chances are often hard to come by. But in this case, the risk is worth taking for the Buccaneers.

If he does get nailed again, the Buccaneers have much less to lose than Tanard Jackson does.