Daughter’s demand to ‘get that money’ fuels Mike Jackson

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson has gotten off to a good start after an August trade from Seattle with 19 tackles, four passes defensed and an interception last week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

When speaking of his daughter, Ryann, Carolina Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson proudly suggested “We have our own lingo.”

The bond deepened last week during a pregame Facetime conversation.

Paying homage to the iconic “Show me the money!” line from the 1996 movie “Jerry McGuire” in a way only a 3-year-old can, Ryann demanded: ‘Daddy, let’s get that money today.’”

Like any proud parent, Jackson embraced the moment with family on the call.

“We all looked,” he said. “Did she just say that?”

Ryann did and Jackson, who has been standing out as the Panthers’ CB2 since joining the team just after training camp, followed his daughter’s direction. 

Late arrival earning attention

Searching for a running partner for top cornerback Jaycee Horn throughout the offseason program, first-year general manager Dan Morgan opened training camp with three top candidates, Dane Jackson, Lamar Jackson and D’Shawn Jamison. When camp closed, Dane Jackson suffered a “significant hamstring” injury and Lamar Jackson and Jamison were cut.

Enter Mike Jackson, who was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks for linebacker Michael Barrett, a seventh-round draft pick who did not appear to have a spot on the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster. The trade did not cause large personnel reverberations throughout the NFL, but it could be one of Morgan’s shrewdest deals.

Entering Sunday’s game against Cincinnati at Bank of America Stadium, Jackson has compiled 19 tackles (17 solo), four passes defended, and the money play Ryann demanded.

He clinched last week’s 36-22 win against the Las Vegas Raiders by stepping in front Gardner Minshew’s errant toss intended for Davante Adams. The fourth-quarter interception was the second of Jackson’s six-year career.

Reflecting on his daughter’s pregame inspiration, Jackson said he gave Ryann the game ball after he logged a team-best nine tackles and three passes defended.

“Mike’s done a great job,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “He’s been a dependable corner out there. I’m really impressed with his effort and finish.”

Jackson’s start is what Canales appreciates the most. After being acquired Aug. 22, Jackson engaged in a crash course in learning defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 base system, with tutoring from defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. Jackson logged 186 snaps over the first three games and proved a worthy counterpart to Horn.

“I gotta give Jonathan Cooley a little love,” Canales said. “Just to be able to onboard Mike in the short window we had him to get him to play the kind of football he’s been playing.”

With Dane Jackson returning from injury soon, Canales may be close to determining whether Mike Jackson accomplished enough to retain the Panthers’ CB2 role.

Who will inspire Panthers’ DBs next?

Before suffering the injury during a joint practice with the New York Jets on Aug. 15, Dane Jackson appeared to be the frontrunner to secure CB2 after Carolina failed to sign free agent Stephon Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowl pick and Rock Hill, S.C., native.

Candidates came and were eventually discarded as the rebuilding Panthers (1-2) continued reshuffling the roster. Despite lopsided losses in the first two outings, Canales indicated he was content with how the position group is trending as Jackson emerges as an on-field leader.

“He led the charge,” Canales said. “I’m really fired up about how (Cooley is) bringing that group along.”

In Jackson’s case, Canales just needs to reach out to Ryann and ask her dad’s teammates to “get that money today.”

“So, when she said that I was like, ‘Yeah, I know I'm getting a pick,” Mike Jackson said.

Comments