Eagles

Malik Jackson Says Joining the Eagles was an “Easy Decision”

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Mar 13th, 2019 · 5:03 PM EDT

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Happy new NFL calendar year.

The Eagles kicked things off by introducing defensive tackle Malik Jackson to the media this afternoon.

Jackson comes to Philly on a reported three year deal worth $30 million total and will slide in next to Fletcher Cox as a replacement for Tim Jernigan and Haloti Ngata.

Some notes and quotes from the Pro Bowler’s press conference:

• He started by thanking the Eagles for bringing him to Philadelphia, very excited to get started.
• He was wearing his high school letterman jacket (Birmingham H.S. in the Los Angeles area).
• He described the offseason period as “nerve wracking,” but once the Eagles called he felt like he had another chance to get out and prove himself. “It was an easy decision.”
• It was more challenging trying to prove his offseason value to other teams due to his benching in Jacksonville.

Jackson on why he was benched:

“You’d have to ask the coaches man. They said I wasn’t playing the run too good, that’s all I really heard. But if you’re asking me, coming off the Pro Bowl year, the year before, I don’t think that’s a valid excuse. But like I said, I’m not the coach. I just play.

I think I played good against the run, to be honest with you. But like I said, I just play. It’s up to them to make the decisions and it just is what it is.”

More after the jump:

• He pointed out that he’s coming into a team that already has established leaders. He expects Fletcher Cox to be double teamed and hopes he can pick up the slack from that. “Hell, I don’t think there’s a better d-line in the league.”
• It was also pointed out that the Eagles play free defensively, people playing “gritty” and “smacking you in the face.”
• He believes that Jim Schwartz expects and demands excellence.
• Jackson is looking forward to having some weight off his shoulders and letting other people lead, just wants to help out where he can.
• Former teammate Von Miller really shaped him as a player, as did Calais Campbell.
• His main goal for the season is to get back to where he can be, described 2018 as a disappointing year for him. “That Pro Bowl wasn’t a hiccup or whatever you want to call it, that’s who I am.”
• “I was not happy at all,” he said of his benching, but tried to take it in stride and continue to work hard.
• He’s healthy and pointed out he’s never had a serious injury.
• The Jags had high expectations last year, but they navigated a lot of injuries and their depth was decimated early on.

Full video here:

Watch live as DT Malik Jackson meets with the Philadelphia media for the first time. https://t.co/80RP56kfUo

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 13, 2019