DeSean takes out insurance policy
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
DeSean takes out insurance policy
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
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."
"Asked Thursday how much the policy was worth Jackson said he didn't know the exact figure . . ."
way to stay on top of your business.— ekw555- Yea, you know you're right. There's NO way he just doesn't feel like divulging details of his multi-million dollar insurance policy to the media and public.
- IT'S AMAZING PEOPLE WANT TO SMASH DJAX,HE IS A BEAST,AND THE REASON HE DOESNT CATCH 100 BALLS IS BECAUSE HE HAS 2 GUY'S COVERING HIM,CASE IN POINT MACLIN'S #'S HE HAD ALOT MORE OPPURTUNITIES BECAUSE OF IT ... THE GUY IS WORTH HOLMES MONEY ... PAY HIM!!!— KINGJOEL
- He does not get double teamed regularly. He might never get double teamed. That is reserved for big bodied game breakers like the Johnsons. The caps didn't convince anyone. Guess again buddy.
But he is still worth Holmes money.— UncleStosh - Pay the man.— foghelmut
- and yet Im amazed people still call him a diva. 90% of other players wouldve held out into the season or even the prior year, its ridiculous. He should be commended for playing. I would hold out and so would you. Great points beegal. Bottom line, way underpaid— peteike
- i just dont understand what the friggin holdup with this FO is? just give him the money and be done with it? WTF?— Evil Overlord
- i just dont understand what the friggin holdup with this FO is? just give him the money and be done with it? WTF?— Evil Overlord
- It is good to know he is insured. Now he can just play and not worry about his contract; he will be rich soon enough. Hopefully very soon, or he may just play out his contract and end up somewhere else next year.— GVF
Comment removed.- I don't think D-Jax is an elite receiver. When was the last time you saw him mae a leaping catch on a 1-yard fade like Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald do on a regular basis? And, when was the last time you saw D-Jax making a one-handed catch like Andre Johnson? Anyone could make the "plays" that D-Jax makes. Now that we have Steve Smith, they should consider cutting him.— eldiablodelsol2009
- WOW!
— Iluvdaeagles - Djack is just as valuable to the eagles as Lfitz and CalvinJ are to their respective teams. Notice I didn't say he's as good as those 2 because he's not but his value to the eagles is extremely high due to the type of offense they run and how he stretches the field. And who's to say the guy doesnt have the skills outside of football to succeed in life? I guess you know him on a personal basis. loser— daoust555
- No DJax = No Super Bowl. It's as simple as that, and if the cheapskate Eagles don't pay him AT LEAST what Santonio Holmes got, then they are not serious about winning Super Bowl, just as we've seen this cheap do every year before this.— brmorgen81
