Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson took a life-changing trip to Africa that helped him appreciate football even more and stop focusing on his contract.
View full sizeD'Qwell Jackson has put old grudges to the side with the start of the Browns' training camp, largely because he has a new view on life after a trip to Africa during the summer. "Something triggered while I was there," Jackson said. "How can I complain about money and contracts when they don't even have clean water to drink?"BEREA, Ohio -- D'Qwell Jackson keeps a gas can in his living room to remind him of his recent life-changing trip to Africa, one that has him savoring every moment on the football field and not worrying about his contract anymore.
"Anybody who sees the gas can will wonder, 'what the heck are you doing with this piece of trash?'" the Browns linebacker said after Wednesday's practice. "But then you show them that it's used to play music, and they can see that it's special."
Jackson brought the gas-can instrument back from his June trip to Sierra Leone, where he helped his good friend Madieu Williams -- the Vikings safety and Sierra Leone native, deliver medical and school supplies to the impoverished and help care for them at the hospital.
"The people of Sierra Leone have nothing, yet they never complain," said Jackson. "They make do with what they have. They make beautiful music from a gas can. Something triggered while I was there: 'How can I complain about money and contracts when they don't even have clean water to drink?'"
During his eight days in Africa, Jackson watched a 10-year-old boy walk two miles with a wheelbarrow stacked with pallets taller than Jackson. He saw a 13-year-old girl with cheeks swollen to the size of softballs because of a tooth infection.
"She had been hospitalized for seven months," said Jackson. "The surgeon who came over with us performed a simple surgery. He made two slits under her ears to relieve the swelling and she was on her way to being fine."
The trip capped one of the toughest years of Jackson's life and put things in perspective on the eve of his comeback from a torn pectoral muscle.
"I'm a different person than I was a year ago," said Jackson. "I'm the same football player, but a better man."
It began in training camp in 2009 when Jackson and agent Brian Mackler were expecting the Browns' new regime to make good on a promise from the old one -- a big, new multi-year deal before the season began. The league-leader in tackles the year before with 188, Jackson felt jilted when the Browns wouldn't extend him.
But that was only one of the things weighing on his mind. His marriage to Amira was falling apart and headed for divorce.
"You feel like you can handle everything, but that takes a toll on you," he said.
Still, Jackson, voted a co-captain on defense last season, was leading the team with 57 tackles after six games. But on Oct. 18 against the Steelers, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent surgery and missed the final 10 games.
In just a few months, he lost two of the things that were most important to him -- football and his marriage.
"It was a tough roll," he said.
But he vowed to come back stronger than ever and have a career year in 2010. Jackson attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and worked on body and mind. He utilized a nutritionist, did extensive vision therapy to improve his peripheral vision and used a sports psychologist to improve the mental aspect of his game.
"I worked harder than I ever have in my life," he said.
But he still received only a one-year tender offer of $1.759 million from the Browns and was left to weigh his options. After skipping the organized team activities and June minicamp, he signed it rather than risk having it reduced.
Meanwhile, the Browns brought in two linebackers who figure to start -- Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita. Speculation developed that Jackson might lose his starting job.
"It just added more fuel to the fire," said Jackson. "I love the challenge. You bring in more competition, it raises my level of competition."
On the first day of camp, Jackson was in the starting lineup, in all his glory.
"And I don't plan on coming out," he said.
Coach Eric Mangini acknowledged Jackson needs to shake off some rust, but Mangini has been impressed so far.
"D'Qwell's looked good," said Mangini. "He's moving really well. He's been close on a couple interceptions, maybe just a step off, but I think some of those will convert as he just starts firing right away."
Jackson said the pec feels great and the current linebacking corps is the best he's ever been a part of. He's especially loved watching Matt Roth. "He's a pit bull," said Jackson. "And Fujita can play anywhere even though he's so big. It's a great group of 'backers and I want to head that monster."
As for his contract, Jackson will make no fuss. In fact, he'll wait for the Browns to come to him. "If not, I'll become a free agent and might have to move on," he said.
But he's not as concerned as he used to be.
"For a while, I was thinking about me," he said. "But it's not just about me anymore."
He's got the gas can to prove it.
| Cleveland Browns training camp: A day with the defensive backs |