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http://www.nctimes.com/sports/football/pro...508bb42ebf.html
By Scott Blair North County Times
CHARGERS: Jackson's return proves profitable for Bolts' offense
SAN DIEGO -- The Kansas City Chiefs never let Vincent Jackson out of their sight. It didn't matter that he hadn't really played in 13 weeks, that he missed all offseason activity and was less than 100 percent while recovering from a calf injury.
They bracketed him on deep routes and double-teamed him on most every snap. The Chiefs were scared of him, and rightly so. The Chargers went to him in one important situation after another, and each time Jackson made a play.
He had three touches against the Chiefs, and each one converted a third down on a drive that resulted in a touchdown. He had a deep catch called back due to a penalty, but it proved that Jackson didn't lose a step while withholding services in protest of his contract status.
"Once you execute at a high level for an extended period, people take notice," Jackson said. "Consistency breeds respect, and I think that showed in how Kansas City chose to play against me. That's a good thing for this team, and it's nice to be able to make an impact whether I have the ball or not."
Jackson is making an impact for a team he has no intentions of playing for without a long-term contract. He reported to the team on the advice of the NFL Players Association, just in time to serve three games on the roster exempt list and six more games to earn an accrued season towards unrestricted free agency.
He has worked hard since he returned, both as a member of the scout team when he couldn't play and the first-team offense when he could. That why, when conspiracy theorists suggested he was faking a calf injury early in the Indianapolis game to avoid playing for a front office that refused to pay him, he deemed it preposterous.
Jackson wouldn't say the talk flustered him, but he found the notion downright offensive.
"It didn't bother me because I knew there was no validity to anything anyone was saying," Jackson said. "I just tuned that out and kept on working. I thought it was crazy that people said I was faking an injury, but I just let it roll off my back. It was garbage and I wasn't going to let it affect me. I know how hard I've been working and how much I put into getting back on the field quickly. The people in this building know that too, and that's the important thing.
"People wanted to say it was convenient and more than a coincidence, but I'd challenge anyone to say that after watching the film of the past five weeks, especially the three weeks where I was practicing but couldn't play. I was on the scout team, trying to help this team in any way I could."
Players rushed to his defense the following day, saying that he hurt himself the Friday before and made things worse while warming up for the Nov. 28 contest.
"I probably pushed it too hard and got hurt as a result," Jackson said. "When I was able to take reps with the offense, I was really pushing myself because I was so excited to get back out there. I overdid it trying to make sure I could hit the ground running on my first game back."
He certainly did on Sunday, with the ball or without. The extra attention paid had a trickle-down effect that benefitted the entire offense.
"I thought Vincent Jackson had a real presence and a real impact on the game," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "We saw some great looks to run the ball when both our outside receivers were being doubled. It gives you some opportunities to run the ball that you don't see a lot and that we haven't seen. Obviously the big plays he made on third down helped us. It was nice getting him back in the mix."
Kansas City safeties played deep, especially with Jackson and Malcom Floyd playing at the same time. That opened up several options for quarterback Philip Rivers.
"Watching it on tape, it happened more than I even realized," said Rivers, "how many times they were dropping eight (defenders) and rushing three. ... I don't know if that's in direct reaction to having Vincent out there, but certainly it's a positive for us and a bonus any time you get a player of his caliber back."
While Jackson isn't thrilled with his contract status or his current employer, he's been able to compartmentalize his emotions and separate business from sport.
"This is what I love to do. It's more than just a job to me," Jackson said.
"Whenever I do out there, I feel like I'm representing myself and what I'm about as a football player. I always want to put my best foot forward. I feel that I've done that and earned respect from my teammates and coaches and opponents as well."
Injury report
TE Antonio Gates (foot), NT Antonio Garay (ankle), ILB Brandon Siler (ribs), WR Patrick Crayton (wrist) and OLB Larry English (foot) did not participate in Tuesday's practice. WR Malcom Floyd (hamstring) was limited.
As I stated earlier, I sat him. I thought until he produces in a game it is too much a gamble. My other options of Jennings, T.O. and even Britt have produced when they played so I had to be making the right decision right? @#$% my life!
Okay... I'm now "abso-freakin'-lutely sure" Grrrr...
Edit: I did see him double over in pain after a play in the last game. But I think he had another td and a bunch of yards after that.
