‘Where Jackson’s case gets peculiar is the combination of his age and the ramifications of the collective-bargaining agreement. NFL owners are opting out two years early, creating an uncapped season in 2010 and setting into motion rules that will keep Jackson an exclusive-rights free agent an extra year. His tender for 2010 would be $545,000. The thing is, Jackson will turn 28 next month. That means he wouldn’t become a restricted free agent — never mind unrestricted — for the first time until he’s 29, an unappealing age for a running back, regardless of his odometer readout. Most players become eligible for restricted free agency when they’re 24 or 25.’