Bucs to meet with speedy Cal receiver Jackson

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Published February 23, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - Coach Jon Gruden feels the need for speed.

No wonder the Bucs have shown a lot of interest in Cal receiver DeSean Jackson, arguably the fastest man at the NFL combine.

Jackson is a game-breaker as a receiver and kick returner. But at 5 feet 10 and 169 pounds, many scouts are concerned about his size.

The Bucs are scheduled to meet with him today.

"I shook hands with a couple of scouts and a couple of coaches with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," Jackson said. "That's a team I like a lot, and hopefully, I look forward to meeting them."

The Bucs draft 20th overall and might have to move up to get Jackson, who could be the first receiver taken in April.

ALL ABOARD RYAN EXPRESS: Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan figures to be the first quarterback drafted. But will he be the first overall pick by the Dolphins?

"It would be unbelievable," Ryan said. "I've spoken briefly with general manager Jeff Ireland and (coach) Tony Sparano and gotten to know them a little bit. For me, it would be really fun to go play in Miami. It would be a great situation for a quarterback, and it may end up working out."

Ryan says he wasn't always a fan of Bill Parcells, executive vice president of football operations.

"Well, he was with the Giants, and I always grew up an Eagles fan," Ryan said. "Then he was with the Cowboys as well. Those were kind of the two teams I didn't like growing up, just as an Eagles fan.

"But (Parcells) has done a great job. He's had success everywhere he's been. He's revered as one of the great people around the game of football."

SUPER RETURN: Tom Coughlin is expected to sign a contract extension with the Giants that could pay him $5-million per year.

"I'm trying to make sure that all the things along the way that you don't read about or see on TV or whatever, the interviews and that type of thing, I don't want to miss out on anything that was really good," said Coughlin, coach of the Super Bowl champs. "Hopefully, that's not going to happen, but it's a blur the way that goes.

"But it's wonderful to hear people say 'Super Bowl champions' and 'champions of the world.'"

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 22, 2008, 23:38:23]