Newly-signed Eagle, Jervonte Jackson, 22, half-brother of Bird's center, Jamaal Jackson, really, really wants to earn a spot on the Eagles final roster, but more than that, he wants his mom to get out of jail.
Although Jervonte and Jamaal shared a father, Jerry Jackson, and both grew up in Miami, they only knew each other casually and led very different lives. Jervonte's mom, Avonda Dowling, is currently serving a 20-years in a California prison for a 2002 drug dealing conviction, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"The time they gave her was far, far too much, Jackson told the Inky. "She only got convicted of having crack cocaine of less than 500 grams -- they never caught her with this, this is something they put in her purse."
In fact, a co-defendant in the case even testified that the recovered drugs were his.
It didn't matter, the press and police had already painted Dowling as a gang leader and were determined to make an example out of her.
Rather than let the hardships in his life affect him negatively, Jervonte took the initiative and proceeded to raise himself (he was a high school sophomore at the time) and his sister who is two-years younger.
"Paying bills, taking care of my sister, that was really difficult," Jackson said. "Growing up, being a man real fast, was something I had to endure."
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Needless to say, when the time came for college to come a callin', many were hesitant to take on the publicity that went with the 6'5" defensive tackle. But, Florida Atlantic wanted Jackson and although they drug tested him more than most, he grew into a 300-pound defensive powerhouse.
Now, as a free agent, Jervonte Jackson is playing (and praying) for two things: To be an Eagle come September and to get his mom an appeal.
He'd like her to see him play in person.
