Lurie: Would welcome DeSean back
Jeffrey Lurie said that he would welcome DeSean Jackson back to the Eagles "if the right terms develop."
Lurie: Would welcome DeSean back
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Jeffrey Lurie said that he would welcome DeSean Jackson back to the Eagles "if the right terms develop."
The Eagles owner, of course, was referring to Jackson's contract situation and whether the Eagles would offer the wide receiver a new deal or place the one-year franchise tag on him in February.
Jackson's four-year contract expires in March. He admitted Sunday after the season finale that he let the situation over his expiring contract become a distraction this season. In November, Eagles coach Andy Reid benched Jackson for the Cardinals game because he was late for a meeting. Later that month, he was benched in the fourth quarter against the Patriots when he short-armed a few passes.
"DeSean is a terrific player," Lurie said Tuesday after he announced that Reid would return for his 14th season. "I think his attitude and his whole approach in the final month of the season was terrific -- high energy. I think he started to realize and get it."
Jackson caught 15 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns down the stretch. He finished the season with 58 catches for 961 yards and four touchdowns, but did not have the breakout year many thought he would have in the last year of his contract.
"So I would welcome him back," Lurie said. "If the right terms develop he would be welcomed back. We have the leverage of, obviously, we can do what we choose to do and control his situation. Terrific player and I really don't agree with those that don't think that he's tapped his potential fully. I think he hasn't and he has a chance to get even better."
Jackson said Sunday that he would be OK if the Eagles franchised him. The 25-year-old receiver would stand to make approximately $10 million next season if the Eagles did. Jackson, of course, wants an extension and was believed to want something in the neighborhood of $50 million over five years.
Just redo the guy's contract already.— p-diddy- The Eagles pissed away 10 million on Vince Young, Steve Smith and Ronnie Brown which could of gone to stroking Desean's ego. Furthermore, if Reid would of let Desean play in the Arizona game I am convinced the Eagles would be in the playoffs. These blunders along with bringing in an inexperienced defensive coordinator sank the birds. That being said, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. Give Reid and Desean one more season. They deserve it. It is tough being a negative, miserable and disappointed Philadelphia sports fan, but luckily I have lived in California for 9 years and live in the bubble of happiness.— Teddunbar
- More junk, more baloney, more hooey ...— petergou
- What is so crazy about Djax? He's a football player!!!! They are cray as hell anyway. I bet it's all white people saying get rid of him.You people still trying to make black people like you!!!— MUSTAFA215
- If we let him walk we need to get SPEED to replace him...we all saw what happened when he was benched 1 game...just sayin...— softballdude
- Pay the man!— NC Eagle Fan
- I can't say I blame D-JAX at all. Would anyone here be willing to give up all their future revenue potential (in the millions) for $37,00 per game with nothing guaranteed beyond the rest of the season? I certainly wouldn't...and I'm not 5 foot nothing, 100 and nothing pounds with 11 men all much larger than me running at full speed trying to knock my head off.— C-MO
- Giants could not sign him....what do you think Cruz would think if they bought in Djax...now Wash certainly would love to have him and I am sure they would pay him top dollar however would Djax want to play for a team who he has no idea who the qb will be? Doubt he would want Rex throwing him picks his way...you think Vick had a bad year? Sheeeeet....— glove69
wideouts are nut jobs on their own, add to that drew rosenhaus..so thats 2 nutjobs you gotta deal with for one contract. lotsa luck keeping him when new england will pay him in an new york second.
Comment removed.- If they think DeSEan had a bad attitude this season...just wait until they make him a mega multi millionaire, they really won't be able to control him like T.O. or Ocho.— frank105
- That's not how we do things in Loseadelphia...we don't pay our good players; we pay scrubs like Vince Young and Steve Smith 2.5-4 million dollars per year!
Loseadelphia...lose lose lose— warreninrochester - Give him roster bonuses every year so that they could cut him if he keeps slacking off.— mikemaddog
- I'd give him 42 million over 5 no problem. I mean just pay the guy.— mundiff
- Here's the real question: are the eagles better with or without him? i think it's clear that, on the field, he opens things up for the rest of the team and makes the offense better - especially when he's motivated. Now, would a contract motivate him or make him lazy? I could see that one going either way - scary to invest that kind of money in such a wild card.
God I'd hate to see him in Washington or with the Giants though...Eli would have a field day with DJAx to throw to.— nyphillyguy - JB, there's unfortunately more to know. Much as we would love to think that you don't want a poor attitude on our team, the reality is you need talent to win in the pro sports. You need to balance talent and team dynamics, but a team full of hard working players with subpar talent goes 2-14. The attitude/effort matters, but it's not even nearly the only thing. And for those of you balking at a 5 year deal, remember this is the NFL. Give him a 30 year deal, all that really matters is the guaranteed money. Make sure he's earning that next year and don't bake too much into guaranteed.— Phils Phan 28
- Let him walk he reminds me of TO too much.— Sportsterroy
- Wow, so they love how he played 4 weeks out of 16; throw millions at him!
He quit, he knows it, his teammates know it! All you really need to know.— JBinPA - While I would love to keep him, if would have to be structured carefully, I don't see five years at 50 million, sorry...— phigglesfan75
- DJax would love to get 10 mil a year... he may get it for one year but no way is he worth a 5 yr deal at 10 mil per year.
I wonder what the Eagles offered him this year already? If he would take whatever the average of the top ten wr's are getting... 7 mil a yr over 5 yrs (35m) with 10m of that as bonus... then I'd say sign him up.— dennismithusa - I'm not sure I don't know if that wasn't one helluva nice double negative slalom, Mr. Lurie: "I really don't agree with those that don't think that he's tapped his potential fully. I think he hasn't and he has a chance to get even better."
— Leegles - That is hilarious! And absolutely true- Only Lurie knows exactly what he was saying about Desean. If the Birds decide not to resign him, then I will look back on this statement and laugh. If true, then this is the greatest evasive answer ever given, point blank. You made my day.
— kjuggs77 - I feel bad for your day — joeibt
