DeSean Deflects
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
DeSean Deflects
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
If you're wondering where last week's media-driven back-and-forth with Donovan McNabb left DeSean Jackson, the answer last night was sitting in front of a rack of polo shirts at the Modell's in Mount Laurel, N.J., signing autographs for a steady stream of patrons -- and acting very skittish about reigniting the controversy.
Jackson, the Eagles' Pro Bowl wideout and punt returner, made it clear he didn't want to discuss anything relating to
McNabb. That point was reiterated by public relations handler Bobby McRae, who took your Eagletarian aside to reinforce that Jackson was available to discuss the Eagles (presumably, at positions other than quarterback) and his upcoming football camps for kids.
Funny thing about that is, careful readers of this space will recall that we scorned the made-up Jackson-McNabb "controversy" --- in which a Sporting News reporter, wanting publicity for a Q-and-A with the emerging face of the team, highlighted Jackson saying he didn't think the Eagles would suffer from having replaced McNabb with Kevin Kolb. This insight -- shocking from a 23-year-old wideout who plays for the Eagles, not the Redskins, and is looking at spending the prime of his career catching passes from Kolb -- was then conveyed to McNabb in a way that made it seem Jackson had dissed the former franchise QB. McNabb allowed himself to get provoked into an observation about people being willing to talk behind his back when they didn't have anything to say to his face. Then Jackson had to explain that he meant no offense.
Anyhow, our point in going to Modell's was not to flog that horse again (though we wanted to be on hand if something happened along those lines, like a distraught fan in a No. 5 jersey trying to stab DJax with a Sharpie.) Our thinking was along the lines of how quickly No.10 has become the biggest star on the team, with Brian Dawkins, Brian Westbrook and McNabb all departing within the last 15 months.
Alas, DJax, with the McNabb hoo-ha still fresh, didn't think that was anything he ought to be talking about, either. He knows last week's activities reignited fears of incipient divahood among fans who have been on the alert for that ever since his reputation preceeded him into the 2008 draft. Two exceptional seasons as a hard worker and a leader put all that stuff on the back burner, but it will probably never completely go away.
"They think I'm the new T.O.," he said. He didn't seem to be taking it as a compliment.
Seriously, doesn't Jackson feel he is now the face of the Eagles?
"Not really," he said, while scribbling on a glossy photo.
Asked if this offseason was different from the months that followed his rookie year, Jackson said it was not.
However, as fans lined up outside the store, Modell's regional marketing manager Derrick Morgan, gazing at a rack of midnight green No. 10 jerseys, said: "he's definitely our top seller," among the current Eagles. Not on a par with Phils ace Roy Halladay, Morgan said, not in May, anyhow, but definitely the Bird to watch.
Kevin Kolb's No. 4 might skyrocket, once he is actually playing games, but right now, if Kolb walks into a sporting goods store in civilian clothing, he probably can peruse his beloved bass fishing equipment in peace. Not so, the scrawny, tattooed wideout with the oversized sunglasses. Jackson acknowledged last night that fans usually recognize him wherever he goes these days, and that he doesn't know if that's good or bad.
This was Jackson's second appearance at the Mount Laurel store in the past few months, Morgan said. Jackson said he does a few signings a month, tries to get 500 signatures in at each. Last night, he was agreeable, if not effusive. Photos were discouraged, to keep the line moving, but if Morgan got distracted and a dad or mom pulled out a camera to capture Jackson signing something for a child, Jackson just smiled and posed.
After such an exchange, Jackson mused about not wanting to be the bad guy. It seemed to be theme of the evening.
***
Jackson actually is doing two youth football camps, but the one this weekend at Penn Charter High is filled. Still accepting applicants is the longer June 28-July 2 camp in Moorestown, N.J., proceeds benefiting the fight against pancreatic cancer, which claimed Jackson's father, Bill, last year. More information is available at www.philly.com/DeSean Jackson, or by calling 1-877-993-5222.
***
From what the Denver Post had to say about Brian Westbrook's visit in Denver, it sounds like the Broncos are serious about reuniting BWest with Correll Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins.
"We had a great meeting with him," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "He's not in a hurry. He's a talented player, but certainly we wanted to do our research, so we got him in here. We had an opportunity to speak with him. He's a great person, a great football player and he's healthy now."
McDaniels added: "If we have the opportunity to add him we just think it would make our football team better."
DeSean will be the next superstar ran out of the city! You mark my words! I give him two years.— juliusman3- why bring it up!— palmyra21
- people...they're just people...watch them play...ignore the rest— retzlaff
- Timmy Brown number 22 and Ben Hawkins with dangling chin strap wr best ever— davi
- In defense of 1yard, any player today can easily get goaded into making a comment and then have said comment twisted and printed in a way that gets publicity. I can't say that I'm 100 percent sure who the Eagletarian is referring to when they reference the sporting news article, but I'm pretty sure his last name starts with an 'F' and ends with a 'lorio', who is doing obviously well given his recently growing panache to trash and disrespect any player he finds morally compromised. Agree with Eagletarian on this one, 1yard is simply putting his "public vote" out there for his current QB, which is the only smart thing to do. Frankly, I think McNabb knows whats up....you won't hear him not backing his current teammates, because that's part of team sports.— Bleue
Comment removed.- I think McNabb was the best Eagels QB I have seen in my 40 years of watching the Eagles. But, he should have known better than to respond to what Jackson said. As an athlete never, never, never respond to someone telling you that some other athlete alegedly said about you. As far as I'm concerned, DeSean is THE man. He has been nothing but electric since he has been an Eagle. He may be too honest for his own good. But, I can't see any Eagle not thrilled that he is part of the team. I'm thrilled. Comparing his personality to TO's is just plain stupid. He has done absolutely nothing as an Eagle to deserve that. I'd buy his jersey in a minute for my daughter - TOs jersey? No.
- I love when people talk about players being "run out of the city". Everyone acknowledges that Andy Reid or Joe Banner have never listened to the fans or have been influenced by the fans in making their decisions. So Eagles management decides to move on from McNabb and all of a sudden, the fans and media "ran mcnabb out of town". Its like when we ran Barkley out of town. Sure he demanded a trade and all, but we ran him out of town. Ohh, we also ran A.I. out of town too. Then there was Rolen. Nevermind that his friends from Indiana said he had already decided that he wanted to get back to the midwest when his contract was up and he further backed this up with Toronto last year by asking them to trade him back to the midwest. No, we ran him out of town. We have so much power!!— Sewellmatt
- Zzzzzzzzz.— jimqk
- Comment removed.
- He didn't say anything? Man, he must REALLY hate McNabb.— p-diddy
- Desean notice the ringless wonder had No Heart,he wasn't fooles by the passive agggressive 'i'm a leader' nonsense,A QB has to be a leader or the team will never win a SB,KK is a leader,Desean knows this so do the diehard apologists..wolf.— wolf 4
- STOP WITH THE BLACK VICTIMIZATION... WHITE PEOPLE LOVE DESEAN, WESTBROOK, DAWKINS, ... RYAN HOWARD AND RAY EMERY.... White people do not like poor performance or fake personalities. DeSean is real and authentic... McNabb's detractors arent racist, they cant stand his robot talk and worm burners. So tired of the race card. Content of your character, not color of your skin... when does MLK's words finally become reality?— 1st and goal
- I'm with you there 1st and goal. No need to throw the race card into the mix here. McSoup is the idiot for giving this non-story life and The Sporting News is even worse. Mr. King said it best...."c-c-can't we all get along?"
- DJax is Cool, national media are a bunch of Tools.— Cant Climb
