"Fred Jackson's NFL career has always been about clearing hurdles and this offseason is no different.

The Buffalo Bills' veteran running back is coming off a season-ending fractured fibula injury that limited him to 10 games, which came at a time when he was trying to renegotiate his contract. There's also the challenge of fighting off C.J. Spiller, who proved his worth in Jackson's absence.

Overcoming adversity is old hat for Jackson, a one-time nondescript high school backup tailback who clawed his way into the league and became an MVP candidate. Time to get back to work.

"It's not the way I wanted this season to end and I felt like there were a lot more plays for me to make and a lot more opportunities for me to take advantage of," Jackson said. "To have that taken away like it was, only added fuel to the fire so to speak. I'm sure there will be a lot of questions about how I'll come back from it and things like that and again that's just fuel for the fire and more motivation for me to come out and play well."

Jackson, who turns 31 next month, rushed for 3,794 yards and 16 touchdowns over the last five seasons and was on a pace to close in on 1,500 this season. O.J. Simpson, who reached the mark three times, is the only Bills running back to rush for more than 1,500 yards in a single season. For now, records are secondary. Jackson can only hope that the hard work he puts into rehabilitation will result in a complete recovery and a return to the form that made him one of the NFL's elite running backs last season."