Updated: 04/06/09 09:21 PM
Unhappy Jackson not at team workouts
By Mark Gaughan
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Running back Fred Jackson is a conspicuous absentee from Buffalo Bills offseason conditioning workouts.
Virtually all of the Bills' young players are in attendance, and one would expect Jackson to be there, since he is an up-and-coming player entering his third NFL season.
However, Jackson's contract with the Bills ran out in March, and he is dissatisfied with the Bills' contract offers so far. He has elected to work out on his own in Buffalo instead of at One Bills Drive. The Bills' offseason conditioning program entered its third week Monday, and Jackson was not in attendance. The program is voluntary.
Because he has only two years tenure in the NFL, Jackson is an "exclusive rights free agent." That means the Bills have exclusive negotiating rights to him because of the fact they made a minimum contract offer to him in late February. He can not negotiate with or sign with any other team. At worst, Jackson is guaranteed to play in Buffalo this season under a one-year deal for $460,000.
The Bills and Jackson's agent, Jerome Douglas, have been talking about a longer-term deal for several weeks.