The Patriots drafted Chad Jackson in the second round (36th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. The former Florida Gator standout tied a school record with 88 receptions as a junior last season and was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff award, given to the best receiver in the country. The six-foot-one-inch, 215-pound wideout was a three-year starter at Hoover High School in Alabama, where he was named to the Parade and Super Prep All-American teams.
Jackson sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.
FAVORITES
What is your favorite movie? Gladiator.
What is your favorite TV show? I have a few. I would say The Family Guy and CSI.
What is your favorite pizza topping? Italian sausage and pineapple. It doesn't sound good, but it is.
Which team is your favorite to use in Madden 2007? I use the Broncos a lot. Their defense is fast and good.
Who is your favorite comedian? Dave Chappelle is pretty funny.
What was your favorite football team growing up? I was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys when I was younger. That's when they were winning all the championships.
What is your favorite sport other than football? Basketball. I made All-State when I was in high school.
OFF THE FIELD
Who is the one player on this football team that can always make you laugh? Laurence Maroney. He comes in every day and has a joke to tell. He always has something funny to say.
What was your first job? I worked at FootAction in high school. I worked there my senior year until I went to college. I worked the floor and register.
Have you ever attended a Florida/Kentucky basketball game? It's a big game because Kentucky is known for basketball. Florida is getting to that level, though. They are number one in the country. There is always a pretty good crowd for that game.
Your high school, Hoover High, was featured on an MTV reality show. What did you think of the program? I watched the show a couple of times because I was supposed to be on one of the episodes, but they ended up not showing it. They are covering my little stepbrother now. They have a three-year contract with the school.
You went to Florida and there are a lot of guys in the locker room that have an SEC football background. Are there a lot of friendly discussions about who has the better program? Right now the Gators are tough to beat. Hopefully, if we win out, we will go to the National Championship game. There are always spirited talks in the locker room.
How big is high school football in Alabama? It's really important because that is all we have in the state of Alabama other than the Crimson Tide and Auburn. Hoover High is always in the championship game, so our town is always excited.
What is something that annoys you? People who talk too much.
What is the funniest prank you have seen involving your teammates? When Tom Brady took off the wheels of Matt Cassel's truck and put them in his locker.
What scares you the most? The dark. I sleep with the TV on.
What is the significance of you wearing 17? I had number 8 in college and high school. It was my little stepbrother's number and he passed away. Since I couldn't get number 8 in the NFL, I decided to get 17 because the two numbers add up to 8.
Who is the best-dressed play in the locker room? I would probably say Ellis Hobbs. He always has some nice shoes or outfits.
ON THE FIELD
What is the toughest thing about football that most people wouldn't know? The amount of time we put into the game. People think it is so easy. We have to wake up early and go to meetings. A lot of people don't know about the mental part of the game.
Which player or coach have you learned the most from in your career? I would probably say my high school coach, Rush Propst, and Urban Meyer. Coach Propst molded me to where I am now, and Coach Meyer kept the process going in college.
Who was the best collegiate player you lined up against when you were at Florida? Chad Greenway, who was a linebacker at Iowa. He was a huge guy that could run with me a little bit out there. He was a good overall player.
In your mind, who is the greatest wide receiver of all-time? That's tough because there are a lot of great receivers. I would say Jerry Rice. He had a lot of things that I can learn from.
THIS OR THAT
Chocolate or vanilla ice cream? Vanilla.
Go to the concert or buy the CD? Buy the CD, because it is too much trouble getting to the concert. That is unless I'm backstage.
The Godfather or Goodfellas? The Godfather. I like the video game, too.
College Football : BCS or playoff format? Definitely playoffs. The BCS is crazy because you can be undefeated and then lose a game on a fluke play. It is just not fair.
Dwayne Wade or LeBron James? D-Wade. He led his team to the playoffs and he was the MVP of the NBA Finals. That is the man.
JUST FOR FUN
If you could have a cameo on any TV show, what would it be? Without question, Desperate Housewives.
If this team had an arm wrestling tournament, who would walk away with the championship? Mike Wright. He is really strong. Maybe Vince Wilfork could take him.
If you were playing in a basketball tournament and the game was on the line, what teammate would you least like to take the last shot? Tom Brady. He has no game.
