Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 2:24 PM | 51 comments |
 

DeSean takes out insurance policy
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(Yong Kim/Staff File Photo)

DeSean Jackson said that he took a multi-million dollar insurance policy out on himself in early August during his training camp holdout. The details were finalized last week just before the season opener at St. Louis, according to the Eagles wide receiver.

Asked Thursday how much the policy was worth Jackson said he didn't know the exact figure, only that the value was in the "millions."

Jackson is slated to earn approximately $600,000 this season in the final year of the four-year contract he signed as a rookie in 2008. Jackson is widely considered to have outperformed that deal. He and the Eagles have yet to agree on an extension, however, which is why the 24-year-old felt the need to protect his interests in case of injury.

Many athletes take permanent-disability insurance policies out on themselves. A good number of high-profile college football players, for instance, take out policies before their senior seasons to protect potential future earnings.

Jackson said the length of his policy was for one year. His contract expires in early March when the NFL calendar year flips. Speculation has it that Jackson and the Eagles will re-work his contract sometime within the next month or so, but the team has the option to place a one-year franchise tag on the receiver following this season.

For many reasons, however, both sides would likely prefer a multi-year deal. There has been no movement in negotiations, according to league sources. Jackson is seeking a contract similar to the five-year, $45 million deal Santonio Holmes received from the N.Y. Jets in July, a source close to the receiver said.

Drew Rosenhaus represents Jackson. A message left with the agent was not immediately returned on Thursday.

Jackson, unhappy with his deal, sat out the first 11 days of camp. He ended his holdout on Aug. 8, a day before he was to lose a vested year toward free agency. Since reporting to Lehigh University, Jackson has yet to miss a practice. There was some belief that he wouldn't give a full effort when the season began, but Sunday's six-catch, 102-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Rams dispelled that notion.

"Every game I want to go out there and help this team be successful and just win as many games as possible," Jackson said after practice at the NovaCare Complex. "And by doing that just being in the right spots at the right time, taking are of my job and handling what I can handle. Everything else will take care of itself."

An injury, of course, is always just a play away in the NFL. Jackson has suffered two concussions over the last two seasons, causing him to miss two games. Last season against Atlanta, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver endured a brutal hit from Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson that knocked him unconscious.

The Eagles travel to Atlanta to face Robinson and the Falcons for a primetime matchup this Sunday.

"I've moved on," Jackson said. "That's part of the game. ... I don't really think about it and just play and protect myself out there."

 
Posted by Jeff McLane @ 2:24 PM  Permalink | 51 comments
51
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 09/15/2011
    I wonder if his policy only covers up to 60% of base salary with no payment for any bonuses/commissions/incentives...just like all the other crappy disability policies? If so, hopefully that "$600,000" income doesn't include incentives or they don't pay it.
    — NancyNancy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:41 PM, 09/15/2011
    he couldnt trick the Eagles into giving him millions just before he has his last concussion so some insurance company is on the hook...smart move
    — IcanTakeit
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:47 PM, 09/15/2011
    He just said it's worth millions,they do not base it off your salary,if your willing to pay for it,you can insure it for as much as you want,will just cost 25-30k every month or two.
    — KINGJOEL
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:56 PM, 09/15/2011
    If the birds are not giving him the Santonio Holmes money, then we are handling this wrong.
    — dmanphilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:50 PM, 09/15/2011
    Absolutely. He's either got to be asking for much more or the Eagles FO is comprised of jerks. They're probably thinking "Hey, let's string this out as far as we can and if he gets hurt in the meantime then we're not on the hook." I think it's a mean spirited way to treat a player who has been playing for well under market value for a while now.
    — bc3030
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:59 PM, 09/15/2011
    Trick the Eagles huh? Every player in professional sports, specifically football is one injury away from having their career end. But then I gues it would take intelligence to understand that wouldn't it?
    — JLH
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:59 PM, 09/15/2011
    "knocked him UP unconscious", huh? Perhaps he should have missed nine months of playing time from that hit.
    — Bateman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:05 PM, 09/15/2011
    Smart move, especially since the Eagles are NOT going to re-work his deal, and will franchise him before next season.
    — Tyrone Biggums
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:06 PM, 09/15/2011
    IcanTakeit--you NAILED it. Unfortunately for both parties, this kid is very close to being damaged goods. I will be surprised to see a deal get done. The FO is too smart and the Jackson camp sounds like they have overvalued his talents. He's a glorified punt returner. #1 WRs don't drop passes at the rate he does. They also make their own space b/c of their size and they catch 85-100 balls a season. Sorry but he isn't worth it, given his size, stats and history. Sometimes the truth hurts.
    — somertonspartan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:22 PM, 09/16/2011
    I disagree with your entire post!!!! DJack is a very talented WR. T.O. is a very talented WR and he drops tons of balls. The little man has HEART.
    — DCNUPE
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:07 PM, 09/15/2011
    wow every player in pro sports has had mulitple concussions and are one more away from retirement? JLH you shouldnt be drinking this early in the day....at least wait until 5pm....LOL
    — IcanTakeit
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:38 AM, 09/16/2011
    I was going to tell you that most of that didn't make sense, and ridicule you over it, but then I realized none of it made sense. You're telling JLH to put down the bottle? Looks like the coal is just calling the kettle black to me. Now I just feel ashamed for you.
    — flyguys22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:09 PM, 09/15/2011
    I have been trying to tell you all this for a month.
    — shadow22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:12 PM, 09/15/2011
    Premiums for these policies are usually pretty high. As a result, I doubt there is much significant coverage. A couple million in coverage may sound like a lot but if he gets hurt and can't get a new deal/doesn't play again, he's basically screwed b/c he has little other skills to land a meaningful job for the rest of his life/support a family/medical coverage etc. etc. Let's just say DJax isn't a candidate for an ESPN job after football.
    — DennyP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:21 PM, 09/15/2011
    I just love all the ignorant comments on here. The same one's who say he's "almost damaged goods" or "he isn't worth it" are probably the same ones who criticize him for the excessive TD celebrations after a TD score. Yet those same people fail to realize that without DJack, this team doesn't even sniff a SB. So you're not paying him for his ability to remain unhurt, and not paying him for "fantasy football stats". He's deserving of a new payday for his importance to the team. If you can't get pick that up, you should go jump off the Walt...
    — beegal99


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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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