If you were on Inquirer.com Monday, perhaps you saw the op-ed written by Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, titled When picking new police commissioner, Mayor Kenney must listen to real Philadelphians.

In the article, Jenkins goes over a list of six things he believes Philadelphia residents would like to see in a new commissioner, which includes a “transparent search process,” increased accountability, and somebody who “fights back against the police union.”

To the latter point, Jenkins writes:

Nearly every time we hear a story of an officer abusing power, whether through violence or racist Facebook postings, the police union is there to defend the bad behavior. We need a commissioner who isn’t in lockstep with the union and who will instead push back when the union tries to hide and justify bad behavior. The commissioner must also support a union contract that allows for more officer accountability, even if that is an unpopular position with the rank and file.

That did not sit well with Philly FOP boss John McNesby, who wrote up a saucy response to Jenkins, referring to him as “washed up” and a “has been” –

“Only the Inquirer would offer Malcolm Jenkins to tackle crime, when he can’t even manage to tackle his own opponents.”

Dang, that’s pretty heavy. McNesby ain’t messing around, claiming that:

  • Jenkins is washed up
  • he’s a ‘has been’
  • he can’t tackle
  • he’s a non-resident
  • he hurled slurs and false allegations at the police
  • the op-ed was a racist attack
  • the Inquirer lacks integrity and professionalism

There’s only one way to settle this. Malcolm Jenkins and John McNesby must meet at UFC 246 in Las Vegas. Screech can fight the Angry Bagel Guy as the co-main event.

On a more serious note, one thing that’s intriguing to me is that Jenkins has landed in this weird social purgatory. Isn’t it kind of strange? On one hand, you’ve got people like McNesby who think he’s too woke and is anti-police. Then on the other side you’ve got folks like Eric Reid, who think Malcolm Jenkins isn’t woke enough. He sold out the Players Coalition and scuppered Colin Kaepernick’s movement, according to them.

That’s my observation. Jenkins has always been very active in community and social affairs, yet has critics on both ends of the spectrum.

As for this particular matter, you can form your opinions. At Crossing Broad, we report, you decide.