Jamaal

Jackson

Having lost out on Scott Wells and Chris Myers, the Titans could bring in Jackson if they also strike out on Jeff Saturday. The team obviously prefers a veteran at center as opposed to a second-day draft pick.

Jackson attended the Giants’ rookie minicamp, but decided he no longer had desire to play. “He just said, ‘Coach, I just don’t feel like my heart’s in it,’” coach Tom Coughlin said Saturday. An undrafted free agent in 2003, Jackson took over as the Eagles’ center midway through the 2005 season and stayed there until tearing his biceps in Week 1 in 2010. He was released in March, and didn’t make any visits before working out with the Giants.

The Eagles’ longest-tenured player, Jackson lost his starting job to rookie Jason Kelce last season after a torn triceps limited him to just one game in 2010. He also suffered a torn ACL in December 2009. Two months shy of his 32nd birthday, it would have made little sense for the Eagles to pick up his $1.775 million salary. Entering a free agent market flush with centers, it could be a while before Jackson finds a new home.

“It would surprise me greatly if they did not release him,” said agent J.R. Rickert, “but that’s a team decision.” Jackson, the longest tenured Eagle, is owed a $1.775 million salary. He’s been usurped by 2011 draft pick Jason Kelce and hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in 2009 and triceps in 2010.

Johnson is expected to take a physical and likely sign, assuming he checks out medically. The Cowboys have also expressed interest in Jeff Faine, Casey Wiegmann, and Andre Gurode.

Jackson, now 32 and three years removed from his last meaningful action, told Giants coach Tom Coughlin that his heart wasn’t in it at rookie minicamp earlier this month, but he now believes he has “plenty of good football left.” The Titans failed to upgrade at center and had expressed interest in Jackson in March. Perhaps there’s a match there later this summer.

Jackson spent all of 2003 on the team’s practice squad.

Jackson was not guaranteed to make the team’s 53-man roster, so it’s not a huge loss.

He could play some center for the Eagles, but probably as a backup.