News Democrat: Was he gassed or wasn't he? Jackson, who had missed 4
of the last 5 games because of a strained right calf muscle, rushed
for a game-high 94 yards on 21 carries. However, Jackson only had 6
carries in the 2nd half and just 2 in the 4th quarter. What happened?
The answer depended on who you asked. "He was gassed and his leg was
starting to bother him," Rams HC Haslett said. "We told him before
the game, 'Go as far as you can go, and then we'll play with other
guys.' That's basically what happened." Jackson disputed Haslett's
claim of fatigue and was clearly annoyed at the presumption. "No, I
wasn't gassed," Jackson said. "I had 21 carries and I felt great, so
it wasn't me and my conditioning. I wish he (Haslett) would stop
saying that." Jackson said his inactivity in the 4th quarter had more
to do with scheme and the situation than his health. Jackson, who
hadn't taken a hit since Nov. 2, said he expected about 15 carries
coming into the game just to make sure his injured leg didn't get
overworked. Afterward, he said he was feeling some discomfort but
nothing worse than he experienced during the game.
