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D'Qwell Jackson seems like a nice dude and, after listening to part of his interview with SIRIUS NFL Radio's Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller from last week, Jackson is quite happy with his new team, the Indianapolis Colts.
Jackson signed a 4-year, $22 million deal with $11 million guaranteed with the Colts this offseason after spending eight years with the Cleveland Browns. Despite being a defensive captain there, the Browns released him prior to the beginning of the new league year back in March. Since signing with Indianapolis, Jackson has apparently fallen in love not only with the franchise's history and legacy, but with the team's quarterback, Andrew Luck.
Here's Jackson after being asked what it's like to work with Luck:
Every time I see the guy in the locker room, I want to give him a huge hug. It's a breath of fresh air to see a quarterback on the other side that, uh, he's learning. He's getting better each and every day. Each and every year. He's making my game much better.
Jackson almost let slip a dig at Cleveland's crop of quarterbacks in recent years. Nice recovery, D'Qwell. Jackson also said practicing against Luck is fierce and that competition at practice is intense.
While Jackson nearly let slip that the quarterbacks he'd worked with in Cleveland weren't necessarily the greatest in the world, he correctly did not take the bait when host Jim Miller asked a question about "the dark cloud in Cleveland." D'Qwell could have responded by bashing the franchise and city he's spent much of his career with.
Wisely, he didn't.
Rather, Jackson talked about the strong relationships he built in Cleveland. Players on the Browns still contact him, asking him how he'd built in the past with coaching and regime changes. Jackson's advice:
Buy in early.
Smart advice.
Jackson also spoke about how the Colts seem to be full of lore:
In my short time here, I've heard a lot of great stories about players in the past and guys who have been around the locker room for over 30 years. They're full of stories. Hopefully, I can be a part of those stories.
For $22 million and $11 million guaranteed to a linebacker on the other side of 30, I hope so too, D'Qwell.