Vick: DeSean showing up not certain
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick: DeSean showing up not certain
Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari
Michael Vick was one of the first Eagles to report to the NovaCare Complex today when the Eagles were finally permitted to open their doors to their players.
But will DeSean Jackson, who has made it no secret that he wants a contract extension, show up tomorrow for training camp at Lehigh University?
Vick made it seem as if that may not be the case.
"Hopefully, he'll be here tomorrow," Vick said as he was surrounded by a throng of reporters. "DeSean just has some things to think about and some decisions to make that only himself can make."
Jackson will be entering the last year of the four-year contract he signed as a second-round draft pick. He is slated to make around $600,000 in base salary. That figure is obviously below the market value for a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.
But Jackson caught only 47 passes last season, 15 less than in each of his first two seasons. Various sources close to the receiver said that Jackson let his contract situation become a distraction last season, especially after he suffered a concussion in October.
Last year when Jackson arrived at camp he did not speak to reporters for weeks, with no apparent explanation as to why.
Vick, a friend to Jackson off the field, said that he had no inside information on whether the 24-year-old will show up in Bethlehem.
"I'm just being realistic about the situation," Vick said. "It's all in what DeSean wants. We're moving forward and hopefully he'll be here. I think he will."
Jackson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had no comment when he was reached by phone.
Vick has his own "contract situation." The Eagles franchised him for this season -- he stands to make approximately $16 million -- but they have only until Sept. 20 to sign him to an extension.
"My focus now is going to be on football," Vick said. "Everything happens when it's supposed to. I put that solely in the hands of God and this organization to make it happen. My main priority right now is to be the best football player ... I can be."
The Eagles can obviously ink Vick to a long-term deal following the season, or they can just franchise him again. The 31-year-old quarterback said that he wants to remain an Eagle beyond this season.
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Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Really. We get it. You don't like Banner and think he is a cheap owner. Must it be on EVERY article? I'm not saying it isn't true or that your tiny insult isn't welcome on some articles... but really? Every article? Get over yourself. It's not THAT funny...
— Cr0we - Really. We get it. You don't like Banner and think he is a cheap owner. Must it be on EVERY article? I'm not saying it isn't true or that your tiny insult isn't welcome on some articles... but really? Every article? Get over yourself. It's not THAT funny... — Cr0we
- Trade Desean & Kolb to Arizona for Fitzgerald & something !!!— dmanphilly
- Here we go with this knucklehead. Exciting player but he just can't shake the fatal flaw whether it's celebrating before crossing the goal line, acting like an immature idiot, and now potentially not showing up. I'm afraid to give him big bucks because imagine how he'll been then. He could be a complete and uncontrollable disaster and end up getting knocked out by Hugh Douglas— DennyP
- how come when athletes "underperform" there's no talk of modification of an existing contract. Let the young man earn his money in due time.— retzlaff
- Drew Rosenhaus— SouthPhillySam
- DeSean shouldn't show up until the Eagles make him the highest paid skilled player in the league. Even though Donovan "Mr. Worse QB in Franchise History" McNabb held him back he still was the best player every Sunday. After all, he's the only player in the league without any flaws. Need a tough catch over the middle? Done. Need somebody to wear down the defense with 15+ catches and dragging defensive players all over the field? Done! Plus in the redzone he was an automatic six. D-Jax should easily be in the 20-25 million range.— lonewolf 10
- DeSean shouldn't show up until the Eagles make him the highest paid skilled player in the league. Even though Donovan "Mr. Worse QB in Franchise History" McNabb held him back he still was the best player every Sunday. After all, he's the only player in the league without any flaws. Need a tough catch over the middle? Done. Need somebody to wear down the defense with 15+ catches and dragging defensive players all over the field? Done! Plus in the redzone he was an automatic six. D-Jax should easily be in the 20-25 million range.— lonewolf 10
- Comment removed.
- Hold out, baby!! You saw how the Eagles took care of Brian Dawkins.
You saw the lockout. It's all just business. Holding out is the only way to force their hand into signing you or trading you now to a team that will. There is NO WAY they will sign you to a big contract if you show up like a good solider and tear up your knee in training camp. - Comment removed.
- Joe "Nickels" Banner— BringBackBowa
- PaulNC, not saying Arizona is dumb, but its still Arizona and its Desean & Kolb for Fitz.— dmanphilly
- Comment removed.
- Jackson will show up when he's due to report. Can anyone actually be upset that he's not early? How early did anyone here show up for work today?— HorshamGuy
- Pay up Birds....You are under the cap and he is great....the real question is, Is "winning it all" the goal and if so spend, buy , beg, steal the best players and get it done.........but if making even "more" money is the goal.....(remember the TV deals guarantee the clubs wealth so Jeff and company will never lose money) It is a pride issue....and if Jeff would want to win a Lombardi Trophy as much as he wants an Emmy, we would have already won one or two.....But his Pride and his Priority are not the SB Win.....It is cash flow baby, cash flow......It all starts at the top....Joe is just a bean counter for Jeffery and he needs to insure Jefferey keeps hearing the jingle......It is all up to Jeffery and for 12 years he has shown his colors......cha-ching.....sad— nuggett
- Undersized with a King sized Ego and Attitude is not a good formula for sucess young man.— citysims
- citysims, I Agree 100%
— GrownMan86 - Comment removed.
- ANY coach or coordinator who sends a 5'9 170 lb receiver over the middle is either trying to toughen him up, punish him or is just plain stupid!— Robi_LA
- Comment removed.
- pay the man— section707
- DeSean only does two things well -- returns and big plays. So he's not an $8 million dollar receiver, or a $5 million dollar man either. But $600,000 is a joke to pay a starter with his success in the NFL. They need to find a way to get his pay up to par.— armchairGM
- Well what do you know.............The show off...may not show up at camp! Sounds like a great start for the losers!— MRD
- Wouldn't sign DeSean for a long-term deal. Too frail for the NFL. He has 2, maybe 3 good years left. One good hit and he is done.— antfort
