NFL News – Tanard Jackson Suspended Four Games

If optimism was prevailing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, than it has sunken quickly. Tanard Jackson, the starting safety for the Bucs, has been suspended for abusing a banned substance that has not been identified. Jackson has candidly said he has “some off-field issues to work on” and taken full responsibility for his actions. He will be eligible to return to action on October 11th, against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.

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Jackson is an integral part of the Bucs defense, especially with Jermaine Phillips being converted in to a weak side line-backer. The Bucs have the hard-hitting and speedy Sabby Piscitelli at strong safety, with Donte Nicholson and Will Allen backing up the safety positions. The move, right now, would dictate that Phillips return to safety allowing Geno Hayes to take his spot at line-backer, but that would off-set a huge amount of training Phillips has done to gain size and power. To say he can just move back to safety is a bit ridiculous.

The other dark side for the Bucs is that they face the Cowboys, Bills, Giants and Redskins in the first four games of the season. That means that they face the daunting task of stopping Marion Barber, Fred Jackson, Clinton Portis and Brandon Jacobs without their starting free-safety. It also means that they will haplessly lose control of passing games against Tony Romo and Roy Williams, Trent Edwards and Terrell Owens and Eli Manning.

Getting off to a quick start has always been the key to success for the Bucs, but without Jackson it will be a tough task. Things just got stickier for first-year Raheem Morris, who might have to cover the dirty tracks of Tanard Jackson by dealing for some offensive help. Brandon Marshall, anyone?