Release By Bills, RB Fred Jackson Signs One-Year Deal With Seahawks

Image via Zimbio

On Tuesday the Buffalo Bills announced they had made the “difficult decision” to part ways with running back Fred Jackson. He had played all eight seasons of his career to date with the Bills, who signed the undrafted free agent in 2007, after three years playing arena football and one season with the NFL Europa.

While general manager Doug Whaley spoke very highly of Jackson in a written statement, it immediately became clear there were plenty of hard feelings. Jackson publicly accused Whaley of personally orchestrating his release, which seems to back a report made by the Buffalo News’ Tim Graham.

https://twitter.com/ByTimGraham/status/638888444421382144

“He wasn’t honest with me the entire time that I’ve known him. I have the utmost respect for the organization. There’s only one person in that organization that I haven’t gotten honesty from, and that was him,” Jackson said of his former GM. Whaley flatly denied acting alone in making the decision—spoken like a true liar!

With the drama already dying down, Jackson officially put Buffalo in his rearview mirror on Friday, signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The move reunites him with former Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch, who is a shining example of just how sweet life after Buffalo can be.

And as NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal notes, the situation couldn’t be better for Jackson in Seattle:

The move reunites Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, who were previously teammates in Buffalo. It’s an absolute dream scenario for Jackson, who can play for a run-first team where he isn’t asked to do too much. His pass blocking skills have to be a big attraction for Seattle, where Jackson figures to be used primarily on passing downs.

Jackson’s presence in Seattle could mean the end for longtime buzzy youngster Christine Michael. The Seahawks figure to keepRobert Turbin, a versatile pro that has been ahead of Michael on the depth chart.

Instead of being forced into retirement by a chronically downtrodden team that hasn’t seen postseason since 1999, Jackson gets to play cleanup man for an old friend, and maybe even win a Super Bowl.