Browns former LB D’Qwell Jackson signs with Colts
By Peter Smith
Dec 8, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker D
The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns inside linebacker, D’Qwell Jackson. The terms of the deal were for a surprising 4 years, $22 million with $11 million guaranteed. With this move, Jackson will replace Pat Angerer as an inside linebacker in the Colts 3-4 defense under Chuck Pagano. The move reunites Jackson with former Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski and former Browns running back Trent Richardson.
Letting go of Jackson created another hole on the Browns depth chart, but regardless of where the truth lies in how much Jackson was willing to restructure or if the Browns simply did not want him anymore, Jackson comes out great. He was never going to get that kind of money for anymore service in Cleveland, so it is nice to see that he is getting a nice payday with the Colts. The financial impact he is making on that team may already be more significant than the one Richardson has made on the field.
Pagano’s defense in Indianapolis is almost entirely constructed out of players that were drafted by other teams and brought in as free agents or trades such as Vontae Davis. That is a risky strategy and it will be interesting to see how it works out for them. In the meantime, the Browns continue to negotiate with T.J. Ward, Joe Haden and Alex Mack.