\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 It's not available online. Enjoy! Jackson: NFL face of IIAC The former Coe College star still plays the game with an underdog mentality BY CLETE CAMPBELL DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH HERALD STAFF WRITER Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 12:00 am The NFL face of the Iowa Conference and small college football still runs with an underdog's mentality. Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson ran his way from a tough childhood to an all-American career at Coe College to NFL stardom the hardest of hard ways. Nothing's come easy for Jackson, the latest proof being the broken fibula that ended his surefire Pro Bowl 2011 season after 10 games. Still, the Bills see Jackson as the future of their running game. Buffalo re-signed its leading rusher for the past three seasons to a new $11 million extension through 2014. Jackson's new deal includes a $3 million signing bonus. "Without a doubt, that (underdog) mentality is going nowhere," Jackson said earlier this month at a press conference announcing his new contract. "That's kind of what got me where I am today." Despite the broken leg that cost him the final six games of the 2011 season, Jackson's 1,376 all-purpose yards accounted for 40 percent of Buffalo's offense last year. "Where he goes from here is up in the air," Iowa Conference commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen said. "He's got to come back from the injury. But that's a guy who could have been in the Pro Bowl last year before he got hurt." Jackson, who will share the Buffalo backfield with first-round pick C.J. Spiller of Clemson, vows his best is yet to come. "I've got to go out and continue to make plays," Jackson said. "That's what I'm here for. I'm here to make my teammates better. I'm here to prove to myself that this is where I belong. I'm looking forward to it. "It will be another challenge. I love challenges. I'm looking forward to getting out there and continuing to play well." Yrigoyen calls Jackson - the 2002 IIAC Most Valuable Player - the perfect ambassador for the NCAA Division III league. "When I think of him, the first thing I think of is the stories of his growing up, his persistence, his pounding himself in (NFL Europe), waiting for his (NFL) break and getting it and taking advantage of it. There is something to be said for not just the numbers he's put up, but where he's come from. "When I think about his (IIAC) legacy, I think about the adversity and the persistence he's shown to get to this level. Even if he doesn't have all these rushing and receiving yards, what he's done to get to the (NFL) is his legacy." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Thanks for posting. "Tough childhood?" I thought Freddy came from a stable home. I guess the small papers have very limited space. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 The Dallas Cowboys took away his childhood home. Thanks for posting. "Tough childhood?" I thought Freddy came from a stable home. I guess the small papers have very limited space. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just in Atlanta Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Yeah, the Cowboys literally destroyed his house. Imagine how you'd feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAWNDO Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 The Dallas Cowboys took away his childhood home. Another reason to hate the Cowboys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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