Congrats to Chris Jackson on 1st Championship

Soul WR Chris Jackson had 11 catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns to earn him Offensive Player of the Game honors.

NEW ORLEANS – The Philadelphia Soul captured Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII this afternoon, knocking off the San Jose SaberCats, 59-56, in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,244 at New Orleans Arena. The victory gave Philadelphia its first title in franchise history and denied San Jose its second straight ArenaBowl championship.

Soul quarterback Matt D’Orazio (Columbus, Ohio) completed 26 of 43 pass attempts for 302 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for one score to be named Mitsubishi Motors ArenaBowl XXII MVP. Meanwhile, Philadelphia receiver Chris Jackson (Santa Ana, Calif.) was named the Offensive Player of the Game after totaling 11 catches for a game-high 146 yards and three touchdowns.

Full Story

Related: Jackson Helps Soul Win Championship

Soul’s Jackson Named Top Offensive Player

When the Soul set out to upgrade their roster after going 8-8 during the regular season and losing in the second round of the Arena Football League playoffs last year, the team’s top target was free-agent wide receiver Chris Jackson.
The Soul landed their man - one of the league’s career statistical leaders at his position - and bringing Jackson to Philadelphia has proven be a smart move.

That was evident again yesterday, when the nine-year veteran from Morrisville was named the AFL offensive player of the year.

“It’s an honor and a blessing to receive that award, but I choose to look at it more as a team award,” Jackson said after the Soul went through their last full-scale practice in preparation for their National Conference championship game against the Cleveland Gladiators tomorrow at the Wachovia Center.

“I’m humble enough and have been around long enough to know that it’s not possible to win that without the offensive line we have, the two great quarterbacks we have, and the support of the other receivers.”

This is the second time the 33-year-old Jackson has claimed the award.

After being named rookie of the year in 2000 with the Los Angeles Avengers, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Washington State product was named offensive player of the year in 2003.

Jackson, who is the only AFL player to claim both honors, left Los Angeles after the 2004 season for a spot with the Georgia Force, where he spent three seasons before signing one of the league’s most lucrative contracts with the Soul.

For his career, Jackson is second all-time in touchdowns (318) and receiving yards (13,229), and tied for second with 991 receptions. In his only year with the Soul, he set regular-season records for receptions (140), receiving yards (1,710), and touchdowns (49).

“I just came out and did my things, and worked as hard as I could to make this team be productive,” Jackson said.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Soul Hold off Gladiators

Matt D’Orazio threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Chris Jackson with 37 seconds left to help the Philadelphia Soul beat the Cleveland Gladiators 62-61 on Saturday night in the Arena Football League.

Cleveland pulled within one on Raymond Philyaw’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Otis Amey with 5 seconds to go, but Eddie Moten intercepted Philyaw’s 2-point conversion attempt.

The Soul (12-3) missed a chance to wrap up the Eastern Division title and home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs when Dallas beat New York later Saturday night.

D’Orazio was 25-of-39 for 283 yards and six touchdowns and also ran for two scores. Brent Holmes had 11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and Jackson finished with nine receptions for 104 yards and three scores.

Philyaw was 26-of-38 for 319 yards and six touchdowns for the Gladiators (8-7).

Jackson’s six scores help Soul sweep Desperados

Wide receiver Chris Jackson scored six touchdowns and Brent Holmes made two critical plays in the final minute, as the Philadelphia Soul chalked up a critical road win, 71-64, against the Dallas Desperados Saturday night at the American Airlines Center.

The win improved Philadelphia’s record to 11-3, lifting the Soul into a tie with Dallas atop the Eastern Division standings. With the victory, Philadelphia completed a sweep of the regular season series and would have homefield advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs as long as the team wins out or finishes in a tie was Dallas at season’s end. Both teams, which had previously clinched playoff berths, have two games remaining this season.

In the final minute of the game, Holmes forced a fumble on a kickoff return and then made a 10-yard sideline grab for a first down to clinch the result. Clifton Smith recovered the fumble for Philadelphia.

The Soul host the Cleveland Gladiators (8-6) in their final regular-season home game Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Wachovia Spectrum. The regular season finale comes Sunday afternoon, June 22, against the New York Dragons (8-6) at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. Dallas meets the Dragons this coming weekend and closes out the regular season against the Chicago Fire (10-4).

The see-saw battle featured three ties and 12 lead changes as the teams waged what may be a playoff preview. In the first half, Philadelphia’s offensive fireworks included four of Jackson’s touchdown receptions. Dallas countered with two return touchdowns, a 19-yard interception return by Bobby Perry and a kickoff return by Bush.

Tony Graziani returned as starting quarterback for the Soul but suffered a concussion in the first half and Matt D’Orazio was effective again in relief, scoring once himself on a six-yard run.

Graziani finished 8-of-12 passing with three of the touchdown tosses to Jackson. D’Orazio competed 19-of-23 passes for 183 yards and five touchdowns.

Source: Arena Football

Jackson Has Huge Game for Soul

It’s not as if the Avengers didn’t know what Chris Jackson could do to an opponent. Jackson played for the Avengers for five seasons and caught 157 touchdown passes.

What really killed the Avengers on Thursday was their own mistakes, and maybe the fatigue of playing three games in 11 days.

Jackson caught six touchdown passes for Philadelphia on Thursday, the Avengers’ offense gave up 16 second-half points, and the Soul scored a 71-34 Arena Football League victory.

Jackson left in 2005 via free agency, but he played Thursday as if he never left the Staples Center carpet.

Jackson caught 10passes for 167 yards, including touchdowns of 23, 22, 28, five, 15 and 30 yards, as the Soul (4-0) remained the league’s highest-scoring team.

Related: Avengers Can’t stop former teammate - [LA Daily News]

Philly’s Jackson Goes for 900

Philadelphia Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON can become the fifth player in AFL history to record 900 career receptions when the Soul (3-0) face the Los Angeles Avengers (2-1) on Thursday, March 20, at 10:30 p.m. ET (CSN Philadelphia - Live, FSN Prime Ticket, Delay at 10 p.m. PT).

Jackson stands six receptions shy of reaching the milestone and can do so against his former team. Jackson spent the first five seasons (2000-04) of his AFL career in Los Angeles where he recorded 480 of his 894 receptions. Jackson also became the first and only player in Avengers history to be named both Rookie of the Year (2000) and Offensive Player of the Year (2003).

Jackson will be the third active player to achieve the 900-reception milestone this season. In Week 1, Tampa Bay Storm WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS reached 900 while Chicago WR DAMIAN HARRELL recorded reception 900 in Week 2.

Jackson, Soul take aim at title

Chris Jackson has traveled many miles and he’s accomplished a lot of things since leaving his childhood home in Morrisville, Pa., in Bucks County.

But the Soul’s newly-acquired receiver said his heart was always somewhere in the vicinity of home.

“I’ve always been a true Philly fan as sports goes,” said Jackson, who spent the bulk of his life on the West Coast and still lives in Surprise, Ariz.

“I remember Randall Cunningham and Dr. J. (Julius Erving) and those are people I looked up to,” Jackson said. “Now it’s good to be back home. It’s always nice to have family support or a home-cooked meal or whatever.”

Jackson will begin his tenure with the Soul when the team opens its fifth Arena Football League season at 7 p.m. Saturday against Orlando in the Wachovia Center.

He returns to his home turf mostly because the Soul made it a top priority to upgrade its receiving corps over the offseason. They signed Jackson as a free agent away from the Georgia Force.

In doing so, Soul management believes it has transformed the team into an instant Arena Bowl contender.

“He’s one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the Arena Football League,” said team president Ron Jaworski. “He knows how to get open, he catches the ball and he’s tough. He’s got great work ethic and he’s been an incredible addition for this team.”

Jackson, who turned 33 on Tuesday, also believes he’s playing for a championship contender, even though he’s reluctant to take too much credit.

“They brought me here for a reason,” he said. “And that’s to be the best wide receiver I can be. I just want to have fun and do what I do.”

Jackson will be playing in his eighth AFL season this year after playing his collegiate career at Washington State University.

A highly regarded basketball player at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., he turned to football relatively late in life, when he was convinced by friends to try making the switch.

Still, Jackson comes to the Soul carrying many accolades.

He is the only AFL Player to be named both Rookie of the Year (2000) and Offensive Player of the Year (2003). Playing with current Soul quarterback Tony Graziani while with the Los Angeles Avengers in that season, he had 117 receptions for 1,737 yards and 46 receiving touchdowns.

He has played in 90 AFL games and he’s caught touchdown passes in 88 of them. He also has caught at least one pass in every game he’s played.

He was named first team All-Arena last season, catching 51 touchdown passes with career highs in receiving yards (1,915) and receptions (145). He was twice named Offensive Player of the Game and was twice named Ironman of the Game.

“He’s a dynamic receiver,” Graziani said. “He seems to always be open and he’s that go-to guy we’ve been looking for all these years.”

Coach Bret Munsey thinks he now has the mix of players that will put up lots of points.

He believes the chemistry between Graziani and Jackson, who were teammates in Los Angeles for three seasons, will be the key to the season.

“They have a good feel for each other,” Munsey said. “Now Tony has a guy he feels like when his number is called, he’s going to be open. That’s important on third-and-10 and fourth-and-5. He’s got that now with Chris.”

The father of three, Jackson once harbored hopes of playing in the NFL. He visited several camps during the summers, even while he was playing in the AFL.

“I didn’t want to make a career out of playing arena football,” he said. “I wanted to use it as a stepping stone to get into the NFL. At the same time, though, it was good to have arena football to fall back on.”

Jackson said he maintained a similar mentality until his fifth season in the AFL.

Then he began to realize he would not earn his way in the NFL and he accepted his role as an full-time indoor player.

“Now I look at playing in the AFL as a great way to make a living,” he said. “It’s a very enjoyable sport. I just want to go out and have fun and do what I do. I wouldn’t think of anything else. This is my livelihood, arena football.”

Source: CourierPostOnline

Jackson signing gives Graziani, Soul a potent weapon

Soul wide receiver Chris Jackson yesterday was introduced amid a number of news cameras, a gaggle of VIP ticketholders and several baskets of crab fries. And, oh, yeah, a certain recognizable rock star.At the risk of being condescending, it was an impressive gathering for an Arena Football League free-agent signing.

“This is a bit surreal,” said Jackson, looking around the crowded back room of Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia. “When I came into arena football [in 2000], this was not part of it. You went and you played. But having Jon Bon Jovi as part of the ownership, this comes with it.”

Full Story: Jackson signing gives Graziani, Soul a potent weapon  - [Philly.com]

Related: Soul hope reunion renews magic - [Philly.com]

Soul Sign Force’s Jackson

The Soul’s signing of free-agent wide receiver Chris Jackson is the Arena Football League equivalent of when the Eagles added Terrell Owens.Minus the sit-ups.

Jackson, 32, signed a 2-year deal with the Soul and immediately becomes the team’s top wide receiver. Last season with the Georgia Force, Jackson was second in the AFL in catches (145) and yards (1,915) and third in touchdown receptions (47).

Granted, the numbers are outrageous compared to traditional football, but his recognition as first-team all-league speaks for itself.

His deal with Philadelphia makes him one of the highest paid players at his position. Jackson will earn $125,000 in 2008. Only Chicago’s Damian Harrell ($140,000) and Arizona’s Siaha Burley ($130,000) will earn more next season.

“I’m happy, my family’s happy and now I just can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Full Story: Soul lands big-time receiver as Force’s Jackson signs 2-year deal - [Philly.com]

Chris Jackson Can Catch Elite Group

Georgia Force WR CHRIS JACKSON can move up in the AFL record books when the Force (9-1) travel to Los Angeles to take on Jackson’s former team, the Avengers (5-5), on Saturday, May 19, at 10:30 p.m. ET (Sports South - Live, FSN Prime Ticket - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 123).

Georgia Force Receiver Chris Jackson Can Catch Elite Group Against Former Team On Saturday - [Our Sports Central]