DJax Itinerary: ATL, LA, No PHL
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
DJax Itinerary: ATL, LA, No PHL
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
As his teammates spent a pleasant, coolish morning on the NovaCare practice fields, DeSean Jackson was in Atlanta, a source close to Jackson said Monday, hanging with Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith. The source said Jackson plans to spend the rest of the week on his home turf of LA. No plans to attend any part of the final week of Eagles OTAs, which wraps up Thursday, although the source said DJax should be back in Philly next week.
Maybe professor Reid will let him make up the missed work then.
Or maybe, more likely, Reid will gloss over Jackson's absence when he addresses the media on Thursday, and then just forget the whole thing. This OTA is voluntary, Jackson was here last week anyhow, and everyone knows he wants his contract redone. The Eagles have said they agree that would be optimal, but restrictions pertaining to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement make it complicated, and in the case of a low--base-salary player like Jackson with two years left on his deal, perhaps impossible.
Jackson has indicated several times he intends to be patient, he has made a number of offseason appearances on the team's behalf, and has even indicated he will not boycott training camp, but "patient" is not the same thing as "happy," which might be the message he is trying to send by finding other pressing business this week. UPDATE: Reports, including one by ESPN's Adam Schefter, contend that Jackson's absence is not contract-related.. Heck of a coincidence, though.
Also absent is corner Asante Samuel, apparently because of a death in his family. The guys who were sitting out by the end of last week because of what the Eagles said were minor injuries -- middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, running back LeSean McCoy and left guard Todd Herremans -- are still sitting out.
Bradley and McCoy ran sprints after practice with trainers and a few other injured players, such as tackle Fenuki Tupou (pec muscle) and center Jamaal Jackson (ACL). They seemed to be moving well.
we're talkin about practice...practice...not a game...practice— dhughes1- @EaglesBleedMoney- He definitely does not have a "new" QB. They've been working together during the pre-season for two years at this point. Additionally, wasn't DeSean one of the first guys to praise the move to Kolb? I think they (Kolb and Jackson) already know what they have in each other. And yes, I am not delusional, I know OTA's aren't even close to 100% voluntary, but he's definitely one guy we don't need taking the reps.— rob808pf
- So, new QB, and the star WR isn't spending time with him. Wonderful! "Practice? We talkin' about practice?"— psv
- les, Jamal Jackson was the key injury last year, why no update on how he is doing or if he'll be ready for training camp???? wtf?
- I'd bet the "ranch" it's just a a matter of time before this kid starts making noises about how unfairly he's treated here, and how gyped he is...and wants out of Philly.....you can take it to the bank.— boasocal
- 2 careers starts is new as far as im concerned. How can they "know what they have in each other"? Not bashing Kolb here, at all, but Jackson's strong suit was his deep routes, which McNabb capitalized on with his strong arm. Kolb is far more accurate than McNabb but has a much weaker arm. You think Kolb is going to be chucking up balls to Jackson like McNabb did? Ha! It will be WR screens and slants all day. I bet you his stats drop significantly this year as Maclin's skyrocket.— EaglesBleedMoney
Comment removed.- I smell something rotten here...anybody seen Rosenhaus?— TBear
- Comment removed.
- "Voluntary" = non-story. The Iggs are lucky to have DeSean.
- The media blowing something out of proportion? NO WAY!!— whiplash240
- Pay the man, Nickel (a/k/a Joe) and Dime (a/k/a Jeff).— boomartin
- Kolb the Int thrower - That drama queen is the only reason McNabb wasn't shipped out before last season. If you're going to hate at least be educated.— richards4captain18
- I'm not one to usually jump on a blogger about their writing, but his home turf is L.A. not LA, unless he's somehow from New Orleans and I never knew it.— HandNik
- Voluntary just means the team can't fine him for not showing up. Other than that, it might as well be mandatory.— realzeel
