Colts’ Jackson takes swipe at McGwire, defends Manning

Indianapolis Colts defensive back Marlin Jackson isn’t buying baseball slugger Mark McGwire’s explanation that McGwire needed steroids to recover from injuries.

Jackson, who has had his own share of injuries, said on WNDE-AM 1260 yesterday that he works with a nutritionist to get back to health.

“It’s really more about eating right,” Jackson told WNDE afternoon host Mark Patrick. “There are foods, those that are high in protein that can help you heal and recover, and there are foods that are natural anti-inflammatories. You don’t need anything else.”

So what does Jackson’s nutritionist recommend he consume. Well, you’d be surprised. Foods with healing powers, according to Jackson, include dark chocolate covered almonds and beef jerky. The nuts are packed with protein, Jackson explained, and dark chocolate are full of antioxidants. As for jerky, he said, there’s nothing higher in protein.

Jackson also weighed in on the debate about Peyton Manning being the greatest quarterback ever.
 
“I see this guy every day in practice, and there’s no doubt he’s the best,” Jackson said. “The one thing that is often overlooked is his accuracy. It’s just unbelievable. He simply makes passes no one else could.”

But it’s more than physical skill. No one in the NFL studies more than Manning, Jackson said. And as for calling the plays, Jackson left little doubt that Manning is the man calling the shots for the Colts offense.

“He has a notebook on every single defensive coordinator in the league,” Jackson said. “He’s the offensive coordinator on the field.”

“What he does the best is he gets [teams] to show what they’re going to do at the line of scrimmage,” Jackson added. “He gets teams to show their blitz packages better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”