Culley: DeSean let contract situation affect his play in '11
Some guys can play through contract problems without it affecting their performance. As we witnessed last year, DeSean Jackson isn’t one of those guys.
Culley: DeSean let contract situation affect his play in '11
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Some guys can play through contract problems without it affecting their performance. As we witnessed last year, DeSean Jackson isn’t one of those guys.
Eagles wide receiver coach David Culley acknowledged what we all pretty much already knew: that Jackson let his unhappiness over his contract situation drag down both his play and the Eagles last season.
"Human nature-wise, yes it affected him,’’ Culley said. "It did. He tried not to let it affect him. Sometimes he didn’t do a very good job of that. It affected him in meetings. It affected him on the field. There were days when it didn’t. But it made him inconsistent. And that’s where the human nature part of it comes in."
Jackson was suspended for one game for missing a team meeting and was benched in the fourth quarter of another game for poor performance. He finished with just four touchdown receptions and his yards-per-catch average dropped nearly six yards from the previous season.
Culley acknowledged that Jackson was reluctant to run routes over the middle last season because of his contract situation.
"I saw a couple of times last year where I saw him maybe trying to maybe save himself because (he was thinking), ` I’m not under contract and I don’t want to get hurt,’’’ Culley said. ``I don’t think there was a fear factor involved. I think it was more, `I don’t want to get hurt because I don’t have a contract.’ The first two-and-a -half years he was here, that wasn’t an issue. A couple of times last year, that came up. And I believe it came up simply because of that."
Jackson signed a new five-year, $47 million contract with the Eagles in March that has dramatically improved his outlook on life and football. The constant pouting of last year was gone this spring, replaced by a happy face.
"I’ve already seen that in the minicamps,’’ Culley said. "That was the same Desean I had the first two years. That is definitely behind him now. Matter of fact, since he’s signed his contract, it hasn’t even been mentioned except to ask him when he’s going to take us all out to eat. Which he hasn’t volunteered to do.’’
Culley expects Jackson to raise up his game this season and once again strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses.
"We didin’t see it last year simply because of the fact that he was distracted,’’ he said. "I think the fact that the distraction is gone. . . there are very few things he can’t do on the field. Very few things. Other than him not being 6-2, there is nothing that a 6-2 guy can do that he can’t do. So I expect him to be complete.’’
Jackson had just two 100-yard receiving games last season, none after Week 4. Opposing defenses often double- and triple-teamed him.
"What we have done, and coach (Marty) Mornhinweg has done a good job of this, we move him,’’ Culley said. ``We put him in backfield. We put him inside where it’s a little bit tougher to double him. We motion him a lot. We do those kinds of things. We have ways of getting (the double team) off of him.
But when they do that and take him away, that’s when I’ve seen Jeremy (Maclin) and Jason (Avant) have really big games. So eventually, they can’t do that. With Jeremy on one side and Jason inside, that’s a tough deal when we’re executing. So you can’t take him out of the whole ball game.
"Eventually, what (Jackson) has to do is keep his frustration level down. Because there’s two on you, sometimes three. That’s OK because you’re allowing the offense to work. Then all of a sudden they’re not (double-teaming him). When we have him singled, we make an effort to get the ball in his hands.
"He gets frustrated sometimes. So you have to look at the big picture. Last year, because of the things that went on, he didn’t see any picture. Now, I think he understands that.’’
Okay now.... Shut up and put up.— Bruddah- "Now, I think he understands that.’’he understands NOW,that he's got a new contract.agree with "Immaturity and alligator arms".— lfran55
- If DJax is truly being double and triple teamed while running routes, shouldn't like 2 or 3 other guys be wide open?— PinkstonsStrengthCoach
- I sure hope he performs better this year, and loses his fear of going over the middle, and minimizes the drama. If not, good trade bait.— misterpond
- Does this now mean this punk will go across the middle and make a catch now? I doubt it, same ole story....— protek67
DeSean used to go across the middle until he was clocked by that dude in Atlanta and suffered a concussion. If they can get a quick slant to DeSean, watch out!- DeSean is not a team player he is all about himself. He wont tackle or block why because he has no intestinal fortitude too do so...we need an all around player.— realtime
- Don't even have to read much of the article to know its contents. This story has been well-documented and observed by almost anyone with a brain (sorry Wolfie, Charlie, et al). However, it doesn't make it any less pathetic. Desean Jackson is pathetic. He has amazing, god-given talents, yet they forgot to fill his head. I don't care what you do for a living or where you live...if you cannot survive, and THRIVE even, on better than a half a million a year something is wrong with you. The fact that Jackson was severely in debt already, and probably will be again soon as he blows through the large chunk of cash he was given in this deal, which will probably be 12-18 months or so, he will once again be "distracted" as he tries to leverage more poor play into another new deal with a large signing bonus. (Overall it was a good contract for the Eagles because they should get two years of quality play out of him for decent money, and then he starts acting like a toddler again because he overspent they can release him and watch him go on his way of many former NFL stars...to poverty.— Eilex826
- I always blamed both him and the Eagles. He should have either held out or played his all, and the Eagles should have paid him because he was absurdly underpaid last year.— msmcdickey
- Jackson is a punk, albeit now an over-paid punk. I think he'll continue to hear "footsteps" and not take a hit in traffic. He'll never live up to his hype or contract.— 1republican
- Punk. Expect him to be the same guy since he got away with it so easy last year. Someone signs for a little bit more $$$, he'll be complaining again. You watch.— PhillySubsMac
- The Eagles need to get back to throwing deep to DeSean like they did in 2010. Last year, the big pass play was just not there often enough. DeSean has to get back to scoring double digit TDs to make the Eagles the big threat offense they have the ability to be. Glad he got his money and can focus on the future now.— bradco
- Okay so now that he has bundles of bucks we are going to see a new and improved Desean? Runing him over or through the middle woul be foolhardy and wastes his true talent which is speed. He better come to the stadium with his head screwed on right this season as he is costing way too much money for another season of half hearted participation.— unbelieveable!
- Make him the designated punt returner and be done with it.— Geno D
- Oh the Jackson haters are back out in full force. When he scores a touchdown do you all not celebrate or wish it was not a touchdown. Perhaps we should cut Jackson and bring back the likes of Reggie Brown, Todd Pinkston or Charles- I can't even remember his last name.
Seriously, it's time for you guys to get off of the jealous podium and stop hating so much. He's a football player, he's not running for citizen of the year. Get a life losers !!!— Eaglehaslanded
