CLEVELAND -- Tashaun Gipson expressed a desire to return to the very team that gave him his first chance in the National Football League, but when the Cleveland Browns did not show the same kind of interest, the Pro Bowl safety went searching for a new team.
And it did not take long for Gipson to find a new home, as he reached an agreement on a five-year, $35 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars less than three hours into the new league season last Wednesday.
“This is an up-and-coming organization, and it’s got a lot of moving parts that are going in the right direction,” Gipson said in his introductory press conference with the Jaguars. “In this league, when you start getting into certain amounts of money, you begin to look at this as life-changing money, regardless.
“But I guess it comes into play that you want to start winning. It’s nothing against Cleveland. I have nothing but love and respect for that organization and love for the city, but I feel like this organization’s going in the right direction.”
Gipson was one of several big signings for the Jaguars, as they also reached agreements with defensive end Malik Jackson, who is coming off a Super Bowl win with the Denver Broncos, and cornerback Prince Amukamara. Combine those signings with an improving quarterback in Blake Bortles and Gipson believes the Jaguars have a positive future ahead.
“It’s a lot of moving parts with some good players in the right positions, and I think it’s just been missing a couple of key positions that can get this ship rolling, and I think those things are going to be addressed,” Gipson said. “Some of it was addressed in free agency and in the draft and things like that. I’m excited to be a Jaguar.”
Gipson hit the free-agent market after what was a down year for him statistically.
Not fully able to stay healthy because of a high ankle sprain, Gipson intercepted only two passes after a career year in 2014, where despite playing only 11 games, he earned a Pro Bowl selection because of his six interceptions, one of which he took back for a 62-yard touchdown in a home-opening win over the New Orleans Saints.
“I pride myself on seeing the ball and getting the ball, man, and that’s one of the things that I wanted them to be able to say, ‘Hey man, if you want to utilize me for my ability to be able to cause turnovers and be a resource,’ then that’s where I wanted to go,” Gipson said.
“One thing they told me is they’re going to let me be me. They’re not going to ask me to do too much that’s out of my game. They’re just going to let me play football and let me go back to playing football the way I know I can play at a high level. God-willing, injury free, I feel like this is going to be a huge year.
“I’m just sitting back there licking my chops. I might have another six or seven picks this year.”
Although Gipson moved on from the Browns and will start a new chapter in his football career, he promises to bring the same hunger and drive that led him from undrafted free agent to Pro Bowl safety in three short seasons.
“Just coming from where I came from, the Cleveland Browns were the only team that even gave me a free-agent contract,” Gipson said. “I had a couple tryouts, and they gave me like a $700 signing bonus, and I’ve still got that check. It’s just a gratitude and something that will never let me forget where I came from.
“A guy like me wasn’t supposed to make it here. I came out of Wyoming. The odds were against me. They said I wasn’t good enough to make it, and all I did was go out and try to prove them wrong. I think that when I look back, I’m still not the player that I want to be, and I still have a lot of things that I want to accomplish.
“But it’s real humbling to be where I’m at, to be sitting here, 25 years old in my second contract, and having life-changing money on top of that, playing for a great organization, I can’t thank God enough for this opportunity for me, for my family and to further my career and take it to new heights. It’s just an exciting time right now.”
