DeSean: "honest mistake" led to benching, wants to be an Eagle
DeSean Jackson made "an honest mistake" when he overslept Saturday and missed a team meeting, his spokesman said this morning after news broke that the wide receiver will be inactive today for the game against the Cardinals.
DeSean: "honest mistake" led to benching, wants to be an Eagle
Jonathan Tamari
DeSean Jackson made "an honest mistake" when he overslept Saturday and missed a team meeting, his spokesman said this morning after news broke that the wide receiver will be inactive today for the game against the Cardinals.
"He wants to be an Eagle, he's happy being an Eagle, he loves what he's doing in the community, but he realizes there are consequences for his actions and he's not above the team," said Jackson spokesman Bobby McRae. "When he gets back he's going to be motivated and he's going to work hard to contribute to what he needs to do."
Jackson made it to a team walk through Saturday, but missing the morning meeting was enough that the Eagles will sit him today. Jackson also missed part of another meeting last week.
Jackson's benching, first reported Sunday by Les Bowen and confirmed by three sources, has touched off a storm of criticism and raised questions about the receiver's future with the Eagles. He has not publicly criticized the team over his unsettled contract, but as time passes, the Pro Bowler earning $600,000 has privately grown increasingly frustrated with the inaction on a new deal. Jackson has watched as Mike Vick, and a host of other free agents, including fellow receiver Steve Smith, got deals that pay more than Jackson's (though, to be fair, Smith got far less than Jackson would want and it was only a one-year deal, not a long-term commitment).
McRae, though, said Jackson does not want bad blood to build up.
"He doesn't want it to become a T.O. situation," he said. "He realizes there's certain things he needs to do better."
Jackson's absence comes in a game the Eagles have to have, but looking at the big picture, the first reaction here was that this signaled a rupture in the team-player relationship that may be impossible to repair.
McRae downplayed that concern, though, as have people inside the team, who have characterized the situation as coach Andy Reid making a statement.
Jackson has until now put a professional face on his desire for a new deal. He has not complained off of the field and has increased his charitable work -- adding an essay contest, shopping spree for a needy family and anti-bullying work to the foundation he founded to fight pancreatic cancer. His teammates have previously said they saw a more mature Jackson this season.
But this dust up may erase much of that. Jackson's playing style makes it difficult to place a value on him, perhaps contributing to the lack of movement on his contract. But it's also significant that he has been dogged by questions about his maturity. This will only re-ignite those questions and give the Eagles more reasons to worry about committing major money to Jackson.
Jackson has been having a down season by his standards. His numbers are fine compared to years past, but he has not had the big play impact that makes him special. In fact, his most significant contribution to the outcome of a recent game may have been his costly fumble last week against the Bears.
More as the story develops.
Comment removed.
He made an honest mistake and overslept. Yet I'm sure this will snow ball into "Jackson not pleased with lack of contract talks."— PhillyFanSouth- I can't get up to save my life. I'd give him one pass... but if this really has been an ongoing problem then I support the one-day suspension. I think it's safe to say that DeSean will land somewhere else during free agency.— MattPSU
- whine whine whine - grow up or move on!— mikey5432
- Like Joe up at Penn-State its time to fire that guy now , time to go now , he should of went years ago , do not stand there like a whale time to hit the road and now— smatjasic6
- another disgruntled Eagles WR--very similar to the T.O. fiasco .management unwilling to commit to a player...player disgruntled & distracted, affects their play and teammates , team goes in the toilet. I blame management for their inaction in this case, DJ grossly under paid since being a rookie. Comes to camp in good faith and management still not willing to negotiate a contract. I don't blame him for not going all out for this ownership. Instead they sign stiffs like Steve Smith.
- If the Eagles don't plan on resigning Jackson and I don't know why they would...you could see him deactivated quite a few times before the year is out.— Gray Areas
- Give him the big money like was given to Vick and the same thing will happen...nothing. He is just another "Me, Me, Me player.— Carlos2
- PULESE! The only reason fatty didn't play him was because it was the Cardinals and the Eagles should have been able to win easily without him. Win and he looks great for standing up. Problem was his team and his players suck.— blackknight
- hire rosenhous as your agent---he can get you the most $$$ from some other team you let down everyone— cliff1954
- The Eagles should cheerfully reap what they have sown. DeSean is a small but exceptional athlete. They tried to get something for nothing out of him this year. Instead they are getting nothing for nothing -- which is only fair.
Andy Reid is spent. He never has been much of a game day coach, now he is less of one. The Eagles have all the parts to be a contender, but they lack the leadership and consequently the execution.
I'm sick of being embarrassed by this under achieving team. I can't remember the Eagles, even when they didn't contend, being under achievers. That dynamic sits squarely on the shoulders of leadership, from Reid up.
Time to start over -- remember a fish starts stinking at the head...— Jona Jay - Wonder if he would have sat if we were playing the Giants? Doubt it.— dpell
- once again, Vick fails in the 4th qtr.— palmyra21
- Jackson posesses a rare commodity in his game breaking ability. He also posesses some flaws with regards to his consistancy, positioning and hands.
His frustration with his contract situation has been evident at various times, but likewise has been his effort to keep that from affecting his performance on the field or in the room.
He's exhibited lapses in judgement from time to time, but has also exhibited a commitment to the community, charity and team.
He's still a young man with potential for growth both on and off the field.
His choice of agents probably makes the contract process more problematic, as does his inconsistancy, Vick's inconsistancy, and the line's inconsistancy.
In short, there's more potential there than we've seen thus far, both for good and for bad.
The Eagles basically have to decide whether they believe Jackson has the physical and emotional makeup to continue to improve and grow into being truly one of the games great receivers, and if so, do they have the ability to utilize him effectively,
or, do they have a player who's not likely to improve upon what he's giving them now, or who's skillset would be better utilized behind in a different offense, perhaps a more accurate pocket passer or behind a line which can provide additional time for longer developing plays.
Obviously if they felt he was already an elite receiver, and an indispensible tool, the contract would either be done, or if Rosenhaus' demands were out of line with the market, then the franchise tag could be used and the rate eventually set by the market.
The delay tells me that the Eagles are not convinced in Jackson's willingness or ability to continue to improve.
Unfortunately this incident, while by no means an indictment of his character, (...it happens) will only serve to make the Eagles that much less confident in making the substantial investment it will take to lock him up.
— andyd - The NFL is a" what have you done for me lately" league and Desean hasn't done much. If he can't at least be on time for meetings to earn his money, then let him earn it somewhere else.— Phillyfan among the NYers
- At least we know one thing-- the Eagles offense is flat without D Jac.— reveugene
- OOOOOO we are beating the Cardinals....yawn, call me when it's a GOOD team.— NC Eagle Fan
- Were beating them. — DallasEagle
- An arrogant little punk. Trade him to the worst team available.— billy goat
- By my count, Maclin has cost the Eagles THREE (3) games. So try to keep it real, bro'.— 5NOT4
- Production + Attitude + Performance = $
No Production + Crappy Attitude + Poor Performance = See Ya!— zajaca - More proof that the majority of my fellow Eagles fans are absolutely nutty. Remember when this little guy saved your season last year with one play? When teams FEAR you as a player, you have great value. Defenses play the Eagles in "Prevent DJax bomb" mode and without him, it is a WHOLE different ballgame. Vick will see different looks and miss the presence of Jackson. Does he deserve Larry Fitzgerald money? No. But there shouldn't be many guys making more. (Just a thought: have any of you ever taken a shot like Jackson did running that crossing route? There was a package shown during the Stanford-Oregon game of a bigger WR taking shot after shot who's now dealing with concussion issues. Get a grip on reality)— KNuff
- booo hoooo try catching the ball and getting hit you little worm..sit him the rest of the season..try working for aliving instead...try a car wash then see how tough it really is you little ingrate..take you and greedy slime of an agent and head to washington to spend time with j werth, biggest free agent bust ever— tooltime
- It certainly plays into the hapless Cards game plan for todays game. Cards will win this game and Beanie and Fitz will have monster game!— larryv
- Get rid of the punk. Let him showboat somewhere else when he finally makes a worthwhile catch. Linebacker bait...— jackd3
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- Greenwing nailed it. The answer is no. Let's trade him for a linebacker.
- The whole team has not responded to the alarm so far this season.— burholme
- You have to move Jackson around because teams are locking in on him. Most teams are playing him deep. If the Eagles would just spread teams out then the offense would be more effective.— GrownMan86
- You have to move Jackson around because teams are locking in on him. Most teams are playing him deep. If the Eagles would just spread teams out then the offense would be more effective.— GrownMan86
- You have to move Jackson around because teams are locking in on him. Most teams are playing him deep. If the Eagles would just spread teams out then the offense would be more effective.— GrownMan86
- He's played soft all season, look at his thrown to/receptions stats, it's sad, he doesn't compete. Playing like he has this year Desean is nothing more than a gimmick player, doesn't deserve to be out there every snap.— sla6yer
- DJ has special talents, but he doesn't compete as hard as I would like to see, esp for the kind of money he appears to want. The 2nd down throw on the last possesion last week was a perfect example. He ran his route, but made no effort to come back and compete for the ball. It was a wasted down and it made the Eagles' task just that much harder.— akh
- fjulio...throwing long to Jackson means all those deep drops by Vick that get him creamed. Ever since last year's Giants game defenses have forced the Eagles into a different offensive approach. If they keep running the football and connecting on short routes it will open up Jackson for deep routes on play action. A facing cover two defenses, the Eagles should be able to free Jackson up for short routes to get him the ball. He's dropped a lot of passes, and is not effective in the red zone. So there's a riff between Reid and Jackson...c'est la vie. Maybe DeSean was grieving for child abuse victims.— retzlaff
- Maclin is the much better player. If you want to hand out big extensions Maclin and McCoy deserve them. This guy cost them at least two games. He's failed to catch more than one pass in the end zone. What's more, Chris Johnson's year has ruined the chances of any little guy getting a lot of money.— Lockyer
- Good..— outta work
- Desean is not appreciated and when used the right way will do incredible things. You must throw long to him several times per game.— fjulio
- Naaaa, A.R. Hasn't lost this locker room
- He is 5' nothing and a 160 Lbs soaking wet....he is not worth the money he thinks he is going to get...he has the wrong agent, and he will realize this soon enough....Do not want him or need him....how has he helped us so far this year!— plaurie
- DeSean has pretty much been a non factor all year for the Eagles...except when he costs us bigtime, like last week against the Bears with his fumble. I have a feeling that the Eagles are going to save their money and put it toward players who can make this team better, and let DeSean walk rather than invest big money in him. Someone will give him the big bucks though. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite the Eagles later.— SteveS11
- I guess now we'll see if Steve Smith has anything to offer the Eagles for next year or if he'll just be another failed signing and be let go after the season.— SteveS11
Next question...— Flyboy24- Doesn't matter...anyone who watches the games can see that he plays scared and for himslef now. No big loss.— Mark1npt
- *facepalm*— Eagles_Nation
- Would he have been benched if the Eagles were playing the Giants instead of the Cardinals?— GreenWing
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- Maybe Papelbon can start.— markfordham
