Alshon has spunk– I like that in a wide receiver!

*To be honest, Jeffery could Tweet a fart Emoji and I’d think it indicative of his potential to catch 20 touchdowns this season.

Yesterday, MMQB posted a story about Adam Schefter on deadline day, because if there’s one thing media members like, it’s stories written about themselves. Here’s the salient part (Markman points refers to a game Schefter plays with his colleague relating to which player he breaks news on):

In the middle of Schefter’s flurry of calls, Alshon Jeffery (49 Markman points) rings him, wanting to know how much money the other free-agent receivers are making. Players sometimes contact Schefter with questions like this because he likely has that information even if he hasn’t reported it, as is the case here. Indeed, as they talk Schefter receives a text saying that Torrey Smith will be signing with the Eagles.

Schefter goes through the contract numbers on Smith, Jackson and Pierre Garçon, slowly, so Jeffery can apparently write them down. “It’s all about the guarantee, Alshon,” Schefter says. “It’s all about the guarantee … Your average per year could be $100 million. It doesn’t matter. If they’re going to guarantee you the majority of the contract, that’s what you want.”

Schefter asks where Jeffery is going. Jeffery doesn’t have an answer yet. Schefter asks that Jeffery notify him when he does make a decision and leaves the conversation at that.

After he hangs up, Schefter explains that he helps players like that “hoping that they reciprocate. Some people do, and some people don’t. And we’re going to find out.”

…

Alshon Jeffery, he of 49 Markman points, never calls Schefter back. Instead, the wideout calls Schefter’s colleague Josina Anderson to announce he’ll be signing with the Eagles.

OK, first of all, Schefter didn’t get scooped by Josina– he got scooped by a blogger without pants who doesn’t know about to spell Jeffery’s name:

Second, I’m not terribly surprised that players directly call reporters and offer an ostensible quid pro quo relationship. People might think this is a bad look for Schefter, somewhat advising players, but it’s how you get scoops. However, if you want to talk about how a reporter who works for a network that broadcasts league games is a genuine middleman and power player in actual league business… well, then that’s a different story. Schefter, it seems, is uniquely positioned to not only report, but also influence the news on which he is reporting while everyone else QUESTIONS THE MANNER IN WHICH HE REPORTS IT! Even Albert Brooks is kind of amazed that what Schefter says here comes out there. Schefty is Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler without the murderous undertones (I think?). He’s both Woodward and Deep Throat. OK, enough of the movie references. I’m not sure why Alshon is all bent out of shape here. It seems the account of his call to Schefter was actually observed and not just some sort of hearsay. But whatevs, I’m looking forward to Jeffery vs. Schefty.

The story on Schefter is good. Read it here.