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Jackson Starts Free Agent Visits

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The Ravens hosted their first free agent of the offseason in cornerback Marlin Jackson, but he left team headquarters without a contract.

Jackson said the visit was more of an introduction, considering he is coming off two consecutive seasons cut short by knee injuries.

"It went well," Jackson said of the meeting. "I really enjoyed talking to everyone here. We were just feeling each other out and getting a sense of what I'm looking for and what they're looking for. They wanted wait a little bit and see me move with the fact that I'm coming off an ACL. I need to move a little bit more before going further."

Jackson left the Ravens' training facility around 3 p.m. on Tuesday after speaking with several officials, including head coach John Harbaugh and director of pro personnel Vincent Newsome. He also took a physical.

Jackson, 26, then headed to Philadelphia for a visit with the Eagles Tuesday evening. He said he has another meeting with the New York Jets on the docket.

A former first-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson said he is still rehabilitating from the knee injury that ended his 2009 campaign after only four games, but believes he will be back on track soon.

"I'm feeling great," he explained. "I'm ahead of my schedule on my rehab. That's what I've been focusing on. I've been running for about a month. I'll be 100 percent closer to the season, but I will be able to do some more football-related things in the next month and a half, getting out there to do drills at full speed."

At 6-foot, 196 pounds, the five-year veteran has good size to stand up to tough AFC North wideouts. He started 15 games as a rookie in 2005, eight games at safety the following year, and then was a full-time starter at corner in 2007 as part of the NFL's second-best pass defense.

Jackson posted 297 tackles and three interceptions through his first four seasons.

"Whenever I've played, I've been productive," Jackson said. "Even this past year, when I came off my ACL, I was playing nickel and was productive. I think people will see if they look at those four games, they'll see that even though I came back early, I could play."

The Ravens could consider cornerback a position of need this offseason, with both **Fabian Washington** and [Lardarius Webbinternal-link-placeholder-1] recovering from season-ending knee injuries.

Jackson, a Sharon, Penn., native, said he would enjoy playing with the Ravens, but is testing the free-agent market for the first time, as well.

"It's a new thing for me, but you have to think of it as exciting, too," Jackson said. "There is going to be a new opportunity to get with a new team and see what's best for me. I have other visits lined up, and I'm trying to take my time. I'll be ready to go when camp starts. I'll be out there. But everybody is being patient at this time. I'm trying to make the best decision."

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