Tag: Vincent Jackson

Vincent Jackson’s brain being donated to research/CTE study

A New York Times report says the brain of former NFL WR Vincent Jackson is being donated for research to see if the former Buc and Charger suffered from CTE

The brain of former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson is being donated to researchers at Boston University to determine if he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, The New York Times reported Thursday.

The news comes days after Jackson was found dead at 38 in a Florida hotel room.

“Vincent being who he was would have wanted to help as many people as possible,” said Allison Gorrell, a spokeswoman for the Jackson family, in a phone interview with the Times on Wednesday. “It’s something his family wanted to do to get answers to some of their questions.”

There was also news Jackson could have been dead for multiple days in the Homewood Suites in Brandon, Fl.

Housekeeping staff apparently went into his room and saw him slouched over and presumed the former San Diego Charger and Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR was sleeping.

Jackson’s family reported that he was missing on Feb. 10. Two days later, sheriffs found him at the hotel and “after assessing Jackson’s well-being,” canceled the missing person case.

Per ESPN:

Based on the timeline of events described in the Initial Case Summary provided to ESPN by the medical examiner’s office, Jackson was located by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as part of a welfare check on Feb. 12. Then on Feb. 13 and 14, the hotel staff entered his room and noticed that he was seated on the couch but slouched over.

“They assumed he was sleeping and left the room,” the report said.

A housekeeper found Jackson dead on Monday morning.

 

Ryan Leaf laces NFL in teary, powerful video

Former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf tore into the NFL in a teary video, saying the league does not care about its former players.

Ryan Leaf suffered through a rough NFL career, most of the issues self-imposed. Things did not get better after the former No. 2 overall pick of the San Diego Chargers — behind Peyton Manning — left football.

Troubled times saw Leaf imprisoned and eventually rebound, trying to find his way.

He has become an advocate “for those struggling with mental, and behavioral health issues and encourages audiences to transform the way we think about mental health issues and addiction. Ryan works to eliminate the mental health stigma and says, “asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

On Monday, former Charger and Buccaneer WR Vincent Jackson was discovered dead at 38 in a Florida hotel room. The news appeared to shake Leaf, who posted a teary, emotional video in which he put the NFL on blast.

Warning: there is NSFW language throughout Leaf’s video.

“I talked to another brother — he spent the weekend in a psych ward — today,” Leaf said. “The NFL just doesn’t (bleeping) care. They don’t care. I mean, they’ll write condolence letters and shit like that, but if they were invested, they’d actually put some money into the Legends Community, and into the mental health and substance abuse side of it.”

 

“My NFL brothers continue to die and no one is doing a God-damn thing about it,” Leaf said.

“… Once you are bad for the brand, the shield, the could give two (expletive). I don’t know what the hell to do. They don’t get how precious life is and I have this (bleeping) survivor’s guilt on top of it. You do something… you do something … just be part of the solution, please.”

 

Ryan Leaf delivers an impassioned, tearful speech: ‘The NFL just doesn’t [expletive] care’

“They don’t get how precious life is.”

In a powerful Twitter video on Tuesday, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf put the NFL on blast after retired receiver Vincent Jackson, 38, died in a Florida hotel room on Monday, according to police. Police said there were no apparent signs of trauma. They are investigating the cause of death.

But Leaf was shaken up by the outlines of the story — Jackson had been staying at the hotel since Jan. 11, and was reported as missing by his family last week — enough to post his raw thoughts.

“The NFL just doesn’t (expletive) care. They don’t care,” Leaf said. “They’ll write condolence letters and (expletive) like that, but if they were invested, they’d actually put some money behind the Legends Community and into the mental-health, substance-abuse side of it.”

“Once you’re bad for the brand, the shield, they could give two (expletive). I don’t know what the (expletive) to do. They don’t get how precious life is, and then I have this (expletive) survivors guilt. A ton of it. You need to do something. … Just be part of the solution.”

Leaf was a poster child of what NFL draft prospects shouldn’t be, with a failed career after going No. 2 overall. But he’s become a forceful spokesman for former players in recent years — a true success story in his post-NFL life. After struggling with drug addiction for years, Leaf got clean and has turned to public speaking about his struggle with substance abuse and mental-health problems. And in the case of his public speaking in this video, his criticism of the NFL is on-point.

If we’re talking about mental health, we have to start with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease found in many former NFL players who suffered repeated blows to the head. Per the New York Times, CTE can cause memory loss, confusion, depression and dementia. But we know the NFL has fought to deemphasize the severity of the disease. Doctor Bennett Omalu famously fought with the NFL amid the league’s attempts to discredit his findings on CTE.

We’ve seen multiple NFL players, including safety Dave Duerson and linebacker Junior Seau, commit suicide by shooting themselves in the chest, rather than the head. Duerson left a note and revealed he chose that method of suicide with hopes that science could study his brain. We’ve seen more NFL players, like Le’Ron McClain, openly cry for help with mental-health issues on social media.

The NFL also doesn’t seem to have opioid-use under control, with Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre saying he had to check into rehab facilities three times during his career. Hundreds of former players reported using pain pills during their stint in the NFL, something they never did in college. Many players experience financial hardship after the NFL. A study in 2015 showed that one in six NFL players go bankrupt.

The NFL discards its players like fans discarding empty beer cans after a game. It’s a dangerous business that advertises itself as wholesome.

Leaf’s cry for help is one the NFL needs to honor immediately. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging a problem. And the NFL seems unable to do that. Perhaps Leaf’s efforts will get the NFL one step closer to a solution.

Lo que sabemos de la muerte del ex receptor de Buccaneers

El ex receptor abierto de Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vincent Jackson fue encontrado muerto en una habitación de un hotel en Brandon, Florida.

El ex receptor abierto de Tampa Bay Buccaneers y San Diego Chargers, Vincent Jackson fue encontrado muerto en una habitación de un hotel en Brandon, Florida.

Jackson de 38 años, jugador de 12 temporadas en la NFL, fue reportado desaparecido por sus familiares el 10 de febrero, dos días después el sheriff del condado de Hillsborough lo ubicó en el hotel Homewood Suites de Brandon donde se registró como huésped desde el pasado 11 de enero, tres días antes de su cumpleaños.

Tras hablar con el ex receptor de Tampa Bay, el sheriff evaluó su estado de salud y dio por cerrado el caso sin imaginar que dos días después sería hallado muerto por causas aún desconocidas.

“Mi corazón está en duelo por los seres queridos de Vincent Jackson, de su esposa a los fans de los Buccaneers que lo adoraban. El Sr. Jackson era un hombre devoto que ponía a su famlia y comunidad por encima de todo. Además del fútbol americano, tocó muchas vidas con la Fundación Jackson in Action 83. Compartíamos la pasión de apoyar a familias militares y hace tres años, Jackson fue nombrado un oficial honorario de la oficina del sheriff de Hillsborough, reconociendo su dedicación a la comunidad” parte del mensaje del sheriff.

Los campeones Tampa Bay Buccaneers, el último equipo en el que jugó como profesional, lamentaron el incidente a través de un comunicado donde exaltaron la labor filantrópica de ‘V-Jax’ especialmente con las familias de militares a través de su fundación.

Ya se abrió una investigación y esperemos que muy pronto se esclarezcan los hechos para la tranquilidad de su familia.

Foto portada vía © Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

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Former Buccaneers, Chargers WR Vincent Jackson dies at 38

Former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson has been found dead in a Florida hotel room. The ex-Charger and Buccaneers was 38.

Vincent Jackson, who played 12 years in the NFL as a wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has died at 38. Jackson was found dead at a hotel in Brandon, Fl, on Monday, days after his family reported him as missing.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a statement:

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Vincent Jackson. Jackson, 38, was found deceased on Monday, February 15, 2021, at the Homewood Suites located at 10240 Palm River Road in Brandon, Florida.

According to hotel staff, Jackson, who is a South Tampa resident, checked into the hotel on January 11, 2021, and had been staying in a room since that date.

On February 10, members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spoke with Jackson’s family members who called to report that he was missing. A formal report was filed on February 11. The following day, February 12, HCSO located Jackson at the Homewood Suites and spoke with him. After assessing Jackson’s well-being, the missing persons case was canceled.

Jackson was located deceased at approximately 11:30 a.m. on February 15 in his hotel room by a housekeeper.

There are no apparent signs of trauma. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death, as well as officially identify Jackson’s remains based on dental or DNA records. HCSO has notified Jackson’s next of kin of his passing.

The death is under investigation.

Sheriff Chad Chronister released the following statement:

“My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him. Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else. Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation. We shared a passion for supporting military families, and three years ago, Jackson was even made an honorary deputy by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to recognize his dedication to the community. He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country, but also the people here in Hillsborough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contributions.”

Jackson played seven seasons with the Chargers and finished his career with five in Tampa Bay.

Overall, he had 540 catches for 9,040 yards with 57 touchdown receptions.

Jackon was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Chargers. He was signed by Tampa Bay in 2012 where he played until retiring in 2016. Jackson was a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Ex-Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, 38, found dead

Former Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead on Monday.

Former Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson died at age of 38.

Jackson was found dead on Monday at a Homewood Suites in Brandon, FL. He had been checked into the hotel on Jan. 11 and a housekeeper found him in one of the rooms after he was reported missing by his family on Feb. 12.

Police are currently investigating the cause of his death.

Jackson entered the league as the Bolts’ second-round selection in 2005. Injuries hampered him as a rookie, but he eventually turned into a dangerous receiving threat for quarterback Philip Rivers.

He posted 272 receptions for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns in the blue and gold.

Jackson then went on to sign a five-year, $55.55M contract with the Buccaneers in 2012 after his seven-year stint with the Chargers.

He had a career year with 72 catches for 1,384 yards and eight touchdowns with Tampa Bay. His outstanding 19.2 yards per catch led the NFL in his first season with them.

Jackson appeared in three Pro Bowls over the course of his 12-year NFL career. He left the game of football with 9,080 receiving yards, 540 receptions and 57 touchdowns.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen pays respects to families and veterans on Memorial Day

Bucs C Ryan Jensen took to Twitter to pay respects to families and veterans.

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance to show thanks to those who sacrificed for our country, and players around the NFL paid tribute today on social media.

Ryan Jensen of the Buccaneers was one of those players, tweeting out the below message along with a video from the NFL, saluting those in our service.

Jensen wasn’t alone in his Memorial Day remembrance. Former Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson shared his thoughts on Twitter as well.

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Vincent Jackson has some advice for Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Vincent Jackson had a productive career with Philip Rivers.

When the Indianapolis Colts selected wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, many believed it was a solid fit because of the type of receiver Philip Rivers loves to target.

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When looking at Rivers’ history, a trend became obvious. He loves to target big-bodied wide receivers who move well on the outside. One of them was Vincent Jackson, who played with Rivers from 2005–2011 in San Diego.

If Jackson could give Pittman Jr. some advice, it would be to prepare for some downfield bombs.

“Oh man,” Jackson told CBS Sports in a recent interview. “I would say just run as fast as you can. Philip is going to throw a bomb. He knows how to bomb it every single time, so just run.”

Pittman Jr. brings size, length and excellent footwork on the outside. He has extremely sticky hands and his 4.52 in the 40-yard dash shows he moves well for a player his size.

Jackson has heard the comparisons and even though he sees a bright future for the USC product, he isn’t ready to crown Pittman Jr. as the next Vincent Jackson.

“Yeah I’ve seen a little bit about that,” Jackson said. “He’s definitely comparable but maybe not quite a Vincent Jackson just yet.”

Pittman Jr. should be able to find his way into the WR2 spot on the depth chart behind T.Y. Hilton quickly. Historically, it takes rookie wide receivers a bit to get situated in the league before making an impact and that might especially be true this year because of the pandemic sweeping the nation.

But if Pittman Jr. can eventually fill the role of Vincent Jackson on the outside for Rivers, the Colts will be extremely happy.

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Bucs’ top 5 career leaders in receiving yards

Take a look at the top 5 career leaders in receiving yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had the NFL’s best receiving attack the past two seasons, namely thanks to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who came into his own this season to the tune of 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns.

If Godwin can continue his evolution under Bruce Arians, it won’t be long before he finds himself climbing the franchise’s list of career leaders in receiving yards. Godwin has exactly 2,700 career receiving yards through three seasons.

Let’s take a look now at the top five career leaders for the Bucs.

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2010-2019 All-Decade team for Chargers: Offense

Introducing the offense of the Chargers’ All-Decade team for the 2010s:

The decade is coming to an end. Even though the Chargers haven’t had a lot of success in the past 10 years, making the playoffs only twice in that timespan, they possessed a slew of players that helped them along the way.

With that said, here is my Chargers 2010-2019 All-Decade team on the offensive side of the ball:

Quarterback: Philip Rivers

Rivers is a given here. Including the playoffs, Rivers has 235 consecutive starts, which is second among quarterbacks. He is the franchise’s leader in passing yards (59,271), touchdowns (397) and completions (4,908).

Running back: Melvin Gordon

This was a tough decision between Gordon and Ryan Mathews, but the former Wisconsin product has been more productive statistically. Though it’s not by much, Gordon amassed 133 more rushing yards than Mathews and he has him beat in the rushing touchdown category, as he has 35 to Mathews’ 23 scores.

Wide receiver: Keenan Allen, Malcolm Floyd, Vincent Jackson

Allen is going to go down one of the best receivers to play in a Chargers uniform. Since being selected in the third-round of the 2013 NFL draft, he has broken a few records. In total, he has amassed 524 receptions, 6,405 yards and 34 touchdowns. Floyd, a fan favorite, totaled 321 catches for 5,550 yards and 34 touchdowns. Jackson, Rivers’ go-to deep target, had 272 receptions for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns as a Charger.

Tight end: Antonio Gates

Gates, the record holder for touchdown receptions among tight ends, will go down as one of the best to play the position. He is the franchise leader in receptions (955), receiving yards (11,841) and touchdown catches (116) by a wide margin.

Left tackle: Russell Okung

Left guard: Kris Dielman

Center: Nick Hardwick

Right guard: Jeromey Clary

Right tackle: Marcus McNeill

Okung is one of the three Chargers offensive lineman to make a Pro Bowl appearance this decade. Dielman earned four consecutive Pro Bowl invitations. Hardwick started 136 games for the Chargers, playing in all 16 games five times in his career. Clary never made a Pro Bowl, but he was well respected for his work ethic, leadership and consistency, taking the field for more than 2,400 consecutive offensive snaps at one point. McNeill helped the Bolts with their rushing attack, earning a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first two seasons.