Eagles

DeSean Jackson is Out! DeSean Jackson is Not Out!

By Kyle Scott

Published: Mar 6th, 2014 · 11:36 AM EST

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PICK A SIDE, EVERYONE! PICK A SIDE! SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

DESEAN JACKSON IS OUT. HE’S A BAD GUY. LIL TERRIO IS A BAD INFLUENCE.

DESEAN JACKSON IS NOT OUT! HE’S NOT A BAD GUY. LIL TERRIO IS STILL A BAD INFLUENCE.

In the out camp, we have slightly-nerdier-looking Jimmy Kimmel, Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly, who says that the Eagles have had it – HAD IT! – with Jackson and his irresponsible behavior of… people breaking into his house while he’s away:

For a variety of reasons, mostly financial, Jackson’s days with the Eagles are likely numbered. His salary this year jumps to more than $10 million and remains over $9 million annually through 2016. His lithe body frame doesn’t really fit with coach Chip Kelly’s preference for big bullies. And despite his world-class speed, Jackson isn’t an irreplaceable piece of Kelly’s spread offense, which also features NFL leading rusher LeSean McCoy and rising tight end Zach Ertz.

Although he’s not nearly the malcontent who, by his own admission, handled his 2011 contract dispute with poor judgment and petulance, Jackson remains an enigmatic figure for a head coach who is agitated quickly by me-first behavior.

According to multiple sources familiar with the team’s thinking, two incidents haven’t gone unnoticed by the front office. First, Jackson lobbied for a new contract less than 48 hours after the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Saints. Then shortly thereafter, police in January reported $250,000 in stolen cash and jewelry along with a handgun from the receiver’s South Philadelphia home during a break-in while Jackson was vacationing.

In the in camp, we have a guy who was once punched by Les Bowen, Jeff McLane of the Inquirer, who says that the Eagles have not had it – NOT HAD IT! – with Jackson and his irresponsible behavior:

Media reports surfaced this week that the Eagles could be open to trading Jackson or that he is one more slipup away from being released, but they are purely speculative, according to several NFL sources.

Jackson is not close to being cut, and even if he was one misstep away from forcing the Eagles to move him, they most certainly would not release him without getting something in return.

The Eagles do not respond to rumors. It wouldn’t be in their best interest to feed a reporter this sort of information without attribution – as a “team source” – because refuting speculation would be acknowledging it.

But after checking in with almost a dozen sources from around the league, it’s clear the Eagles aren’t interested in dealing the 27-year-old Jackson – not by a long shot.

Look, McLane is the Eagles’ go-to guy when they want to leak a story or give their side. He writes for the big boy paper (a sentiment similar to something Lenny Dykstra once said to Frank Fitzpatrick). So consider me skeptical on the Eagles not commenting on this.* However, I’m still inclined to side with McLane here. Mosher’s argument is essentially that Chip Kelly won’t tolerate a player like DeSean Jackson. But this is the NFL– what DeSean does in his free time, to date, is tame compared to other guys on the team and in the league (you can argue that LeSean McCoy and Jason Peters and Riley Cooper are more destructive off the field). It wouldn’t make much sense if the Eagles wanted to part ways with DeSean because he raps. He also catches deep balls, many of them. And despite all his nonsense, he’s a good player. His biggest crime may be the way-too-heavy filters he uses on Instagram.

*Not saying this is the case with McLane, but this is the way it works, folks. Sources close to the team, familiar with the situation are usually the actual person or team or whatever. They can’t speak on the record, but they need their side out there regardless. It’s really not unethical because the net result is information getting out. It’s just the way this thing works. It’s how your sausage is made. And it can be very delicious.