Steelers All-Pro Cameron Heyward has Jackson’s back
Even a member of archrivals the Pittsburgh Steelers knows that Jackson’s exclusion from ESPN’s top 10 quarterback rankings “makes no sense.”
“How the hell isn’t he a top 10 player? The guy just won an MVP two years ago,” three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast (via Steelers Depot). “I have the utmost respect for a guy like Lamar.”
ESPN’s rankings were the result of a poll of more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players who clearly still don’t know what to think of a quarterback with Jackson’s unique skillset, no matter how successful he is .
“Is he a prototypical quarterback? No, but who says quarterbacks have to play a certain way?” Heyward said. “He’s a younger guy who will develop and be one of the greats in our league. I just think he’s a top quarterback in our league. It seems a little irrational that everyone is putting him down because he injured himself last year. “
Heyward, who has played against Jackson three times, went on to say how difficult it is to contain him.
“If we’re going to play Lamar, you have to make sure everyone is held accountable,” Heyward said. “There always has to be a spy, so if you do that you can’t have anyone in the backend, you’re taking someone out there. I don’t know many quarterbacks that can do that. This list only seems incomplete if you don’t have Lamar in your top 10.”