Despite reports, former Bird Jackson hasn't retired

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Jamaal Jackson has been sitting at home the last few days reading all about how hes decided to retire after nine NFL seasons.

Just one tiny, little problem.

He hasnt decided to retire.

Im keeping my options open, Jackson said Monday. I dont know what Im going to do yet, so its kind of funny to keep hearing that I decided to retire. Im leaning toward retiring, whatever.

The truth is I dont know. I havent filed any papers. I havent made the decision, and I wont until the summer. I dont know what Im going to do yet.

Jackson, who spent the 2003 through 2011 seasons with the Eagles, was released in March after losing his starting job to rookie Jason Kelce.

Jackson spent a day in the Giants rookie camp last week before leaving and telling coach Tom Coughlin that his heart wasnt in it.

I told him my heart wasnt into trying out, Jackson said. I could tell it wasnt a good situation for me. I played nine, going on 10, years in the National Football League, and I dont want to have to try out for a team.

It was humbling being out there with all those rookies and young guys. From everything I heard, I didnt really have a realistic shot at making the team, so I just didnt see the point of staying there.

Coughlin, apparently misinterpreting Jacksons comment that his heart wasnt into it, told reporters covering the Giants that Jackson had decided to retire. Now, even Jacksons Wikipedia page says, In May 2012, he ... decided to retire from football.

But Jackson said Monday that what he told Coughlin was that his heart wasnt into that specific situation. Not necessarily that his heart isnt into playing football.

And if the situation is right, hed like to compete for a job. Hes working out every day, staying in shape, and if a team calls later this summer and Jackson feels like he has a legitimate chance to compete for a job, hell go for it.

Its all about whether its the right situation for me, he said. If I feel like a team is giving me a realistic shot at making the team, yeah, that would be great. I know I can still play. Im only 32, Im healthy, and I know theres a lot of guys who are 32 or older who are still playing.

Im not going to have my agent start calling every team and trying to get me into a camp. But if its July, and a team wants me to come in, Im not going to rule that out.

Jackson started 77 games for the Eagles from the middle of 2005, when he replaced injured Hank Fraley in the starting lineup, through opening day 2010, when he tore his right triceps and was lost for the year. He backed up Kelce in all 16 games last year.

If thats it, if Im done, thats fine, Jackson said. I feel great about my career, and it was a great run. But Im not ready to say that yet. If Im done, Im done. If Im not, Im not. But its going to be my call, and I havent made that decision yet, and I wont probably for a couple months.

Its kind of funny to keep reading that you retired, but nobody who wrote that ever actually bothered to ask me.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com

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