Jan 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson (52) at Team Irvin practice for the 2015 Pro Bowl at Luke Air Force Base. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Indianapolis Colts D’Qwell Jackson is hoping that the NFL returns a certain souvenir back to him. That is, after the league concludes its investigation on “Deflate-Gate“.
Having caught the interception that initially sparked the league’s latest controversy in this past weekend’s AFC Championship game, Jackson would like to see his memento returned as he told NFL Media Thursday after Pro Bowl practice in Glendale, Arizona:
"“I wanted to keep it [his interception football] as a souvenir, and right now I’m still trying to find that souvenir, so I’ll let the powers that be handle it and I guess I’m in the middle of it,” Jackson said."
When Jackson made the interception, he insisted that he was just trying to make a defensive play as a linebacker in coverage. The football was then handed to a member of the Colts’ equipment staff, presumably as a keepsake for making such a special defensive play off a highly regarded player in the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady:
"“All I was doing was doing my job, and you know I made a great play on a great player [Tom Brady]. Uh, I wanted to keep it as a souvenir, so I handed it off and next thing you all know, I’m in the middle of “Deflate-Gate so…I don’t know how that happened. I was just doing my job and seem to be in the middle of everything.”"
Whether he noticed anything particularly unusual of his interception football upon feeling and holding it, Jackson added:
"“No, I’m a linebacker. I’m a defensive guy. So if anyone recognized anything, it definitely wouldn’t come from me.”"
Regardless if the NFL ultimately returns D’Qwell Jackson’s football or whether it ends up in the league’s version of a confidential storage unit like this below (pictured), Jackson should already have made another souvenir of his own this weekend, when he plays in his 1st career Pro Bowl. The 9-year veteran is 1 of 7 Colts to make this year’s Pro Bowl and will hope to deliver a victory for Team Irvin.
Even if his keepsake is kept from him…
Shot from the Film
“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”