The New York Jets announced Thursday the signing of free agent linebacker Alonzo Jackson and that rookie linebacker Michael Brown, Jr. was waived. Jets' General Manager Mike Tannenbaum made the announcements.
Jackson, 6-4, 268 pounds, is entering his fourth professional season, having originally entered the NFL as a second round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003 with the 59th selection overall.
A native of Americus, GA, Jackson went on to play his college football at Florida State and played for the Steelers in 2003 and 2004 before being waived at the end of training camp in 2005. He signed as a free agent with the New York Giants midway through the season in 2005 and started the Giants' playoff loss vs. the Carolina Panthers. In that game, he collected a career-high nine tackles and sacked RB Nick Goings for a nine-yard loss after the running back dropped back and attempted a halfback option. While with the Giants, Jackson played in eight regular season games, making one start at OLB, and finished with eight tackles on defense and five special teams tackles. The Giants waived Jackson on April 26, 2006.
The Jets signed Brown, 6-4, 250 pounds, as a rookie free agent on May 12, 2006. He was a four-year letterman for the Howard Bisons, playing in 35 career games and collecting 89 tackles, 31 tackles for losses and 11 sacks.
