CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns’ interest in free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney isn’t exactly a closely guarded secret these days.
Last year they pitched a multi-year deal to Clowney, which he turned down in favor of a one-year contract with Tennessee and last week they hosted Clowney for a visit.
New defensive tackle Malik Jackson doesn’t plan on trying to persuade Clowney to join him in Cleveland.
“I do not think I have to, to be honest with you,” Jackson said on a Zoom video conference call with reporters Wednesday morning. “It is one of those things that the team speaks for itself and what we are trying to build speaks for itself. If you want to hop on board, come hop on board.
“I understand the free agency market is not what he probably wants, but things are bigger than monetary value, and you get a chance to be on a good team and set yourself up in the future.”
It’s why Jackson signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract this month with the Browns.
“A Super Bowl-contender team, and that is what I was looking for, especially with the climate of this free agency and a lot of one-year deals,” Jackson said of his perception of the organization. “I did not want to go anywhere that was trying to rebuild. I wanted to go somewhere with a consistent team, somewhere I could come in and not have to be the guy and I could just be a supporting role and have opportunities to fight for a job starting and third downs. That is all I could ask for.”
Jackson remembers how far on hard times the Browns had fallen but recognizes that Cleveland has come a long way in a short amount of time.
“Growing up in the league for me – this is my 10th year – seeing where the Browns started and seeing where I have the opportunity to help them go and where they have already been is exciting to me,” Jackson said. “I am just excited to be able to help turn the culture around that has already been turned around and be able to say I helped that team go even farther than they did the year before. That is what I am excited about, just seeing the history and really be somebody who came in and really helped turn it around after they turned it around – just that little bit more.”
Jackson, who won Super Bowl 50 with Denver, aims to add another ring to his hand next February in Los Angeles.
“I think if you are not seeing yourself in January and if you are not saying to yourself the day after the Super Bowl, ‘My team is going to the Super Bowl next year,’ then you are wrong,” Jackson said. “I think you have to put yourself in the mindset of being great, expecting to be great and letting things fall where they may after 17 weeks. I do not think it is bad for guys to have expectations. I think it makes you work harder to put expectations on you that you want to meet. I think it is the right thing to do.”
The ball is in Clowney’s court as to whether he wants to join Jackson.