There’s a sheet in Bears safety Eddie Jackson’s locker that reminds him what greatness looks like every day. It details what the best safeties in history did in their third year, and that’s his target going into this season.
One name on the page stands out to Jackson and most safeties of his generation: Hall of Famer Ed Reed. After a nearly three-hour practice Tuesday, when probably the only thing on his mind was getting some water, he recited the statistics from Reed’s 2004 all-pro season with no hesitation.
“I’m working on that to see what I need to do — What’s the goal?