Book rips DeSean Jackson, labels him a 'jerk'
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Book rips DeSean Jackson, labels him a 'jerk'
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
A recently-released book slams Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson and ranks him No. 86 among all-time jerks in sports.
Michael Freeman, CBSSports.com columnist and author of The All-Time Biggest Sports Jerks: And Other Goofballs, Cads, Miscreants, Reprobates, and Weirdos (Plus a Few Good Guys), rips Jackson for letting go of the ball before crossing the goal line in a game which we all remember last year against the Cowboys.
Writes Freeman:
Sadly, Jackson is likely a lost cause. He clearly doesn't listen to anyone and could give a damn about how he's viewed, which are two dangerous aspects of his personality. He's practically destined to jackass himself out of football (yeah, the Jerk Council used jackass that way). Then he'll look back and wonder what the hell happened.
According to amazon.com, the book was released in late May so maybe this is old news. But we don't remember hearing much about it until about a few hours ago. If you click on the link above and are a customer, you can read the chapter on Jackson online.
Freeman, who is African-American, said Jackson degrades himself by his actions:
There's no difference between Jackson's actions -- and the cadre of fools like [Terrell] Owens and his ilk -- and those African Americans who once debased and degraded themselves because that's what they believed whites wanted to see.
Rich Quinones of 1290 The Ticket in Delaware had Freeman on to discuss the book and his chapter on Jackson. He said he stood by what he wrote, but he didn't really slam Jackson on the air as he did in the book.
"Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he's not a lost cause but I think he had done that in college [celebrated before crossing the goal line] so I think that's why I wrote that he's a lost cause," Freeman said. "He's young so he could easily prove me wrong but he doesn't seem interested in proving me wrong. He seems interested in doing that kind of stuff so that's what makes me a little worried about him."
My problem here is that Freeman used Jackson as an example about what he described as a larger issue. That doesn't really seem fair, considering there was no indication in the book or radio interview that Freeman had ever even talked to Jackson.
Back in June, I linked to a video with Jackson in which he discussed the death of his father, Bill, in the offseason. Click on the link, and tell me if that sounds like the same guy Freeman is describing. There are only 85 people in the history of sports that are bigger jerks than him? Because he celebrated early before crossing the end zone?
I'm not buying it.
Maybe I'm wrong, but Jackson seems to be generally liked by teammates, coaches, the media, and well, pretty much everyone here who watched him last season. Just earlier this week, Rich Hofmann of the Daily News wrote about Jackson's intelligence and how his hard work off the field and in the film room enabled him to have such a stellar rookie season.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and Freeman has a strong one, but I think he's off-base with his assessment of Jackson here.
Thanks to the folks at 1290 for the heads-up on the book and the interview.
Update: Just figured out that much of what Freeman wrote about Jackson in the book was originally published in an online column last season.
I know who DeSean Jackson is. I have no idea who this Freeman guy is. I think THAT'S what's got him so worked up. dviljoen- Dropping the ball before the goal line was a huge mistake in his rookie year. What matters now is how much he has learned and how he applies those lessons. His racial category has no bearing on any of this. I say that as a white male and as a person who would be quick to rip him if he shows a lack of discipline this upcoming season. Give him the benefit of the doubt until he proves us wrong. Go Birds! Can't wait for the new season.....
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I could've told you this. DeSean Jackson was charging 85 dollars an autograph at the Eagles Carnival last year. He hadn't even played a game yet, wonder if it's up around 200 now? He'll never be more then a #2 WR. robkaos
It's obvious that Freeman is the real jerk and trying so much to get some cheap attention. The same kind of jerk that feels he has to condemn his own people to be seen as a legitimate critic. Go jerk yourself off Mr. Freeman. OTITOKORO
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I agree with theo1980 jonlemagne
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Don't forget fella's he did the same thing in a High School All American game. He's a repeat offender. Steve-o
Freeman probably weighs 300 lbs and couldn't run five feet... merlinknghts
This dude is a flipping loser. D-Jack was a rookie last year. Rookies make mistakes. Has he ever played any sports? No! he is just ticked off at all the millions of people that has passed him by having talent. sheek2109
haha, DeSean is a homey, and trust he was humbled by the NFL, and trust, he will dominate in a couple of seasons. It's sad that the D-Jax J-Mac won't be in the Mac-5 era for its entirety, but like Dawks said we gonna ride out! Dawks4Prez
Michael Freeman is a jerk. Eagledelphian
That's just great! Now we have to make room for one more on the plane to Disneyworld. When will this ever end? Phillybilly
yo Coniglio - "His work essentially consists of a few unremarkable observations about sports and a few obnoxious moralistic rants that range from paranoid to unforgivably stupid." - are you tryin' to say Freeman is one of these lunatics that post there incessant nonsense on these message boards? bboybeballin
someone please call this knuckle head Freeman out when Jackson have a Allstar year until then this Freeman has no weight to his comments..just want to sell books jboyanders
Does Freeman even know DeSean Jackson? How does he know he doesn't listen to anyone? The DeSean Jackson he describes in this passage seems a far cry from the guy whom Andy Reid said would pull defensive players aside and ask for their advice during camp last year. kingsolomonsmind
why does that dude have to play the race card? he is a jerk cause it makes african americans look bad? are u kidding? he made himself look bad. end of. im not going to walk up to my friend and go "i think less of u cause your black just like THAT JERK DESEAN JACKSON". it's about individuals freeman, not the color of your skin. don't be racist (yes, im aware he is black). mmmikey
i think the author and most of you agreeing with him here are jerks maximus- Lighten up people! He's 22 years old....you're allowed to be stupid at that age! Now if he's still pulling this stuff at 30..............
I can believe this one Crosbysucks
I've marveled at the incredulous writing of Freeman on cbssports.com for years, and how this guy could possibly have a job with a bona fide journalistic organization. Not only poor writing, but many times flat-out baseless opinions that he makes no real effort to support. This is another sad example. What makes it more disappointing is the fact that people like me are thinking and writing about him right now, which I'm sure he - and his editors - truly covet. Shame on me. EaglesWest
How Freeman was able to put together a snap shot of Jackson's personality from a mistake made on the football field is amazing. Look folks, Jackson was new, excited about the play and made a bone-head mistake. He seems to be a smart guy and the makings of a future play-maker. Give the guy a chance. I too played him on my fantasy team and lost that week. However, I roared with laughter after watching the replays over and over again. Mr. Freeman, get a life and give this guy a break. I didn't read your book and probably won't, however, try to write about something worth merit. Christine Summers
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Freeman look in the mirror,and tell me what you see. POINT TAKING WELL pughkeith932- I'd be interested in seeing if Jose Reyes is on this list. If he's not, then this list is 100% junk. kev
It was an idiotic play, but hardly seems to have anything to do with his character. He did it the first time in the high school "futures" game or whatever it's called. I remember seeing that on sportscenter, then laughed when I found out it was the same guy a few years later. DJax seems like a good kid though. Rookies do not easily get on the field on an Andy Reid team, so he had to be doing something right that would prevent him from throwing his career away as Freeman states. Also, that is the root of racism, passing judgement on people we don't know. We say it about atheletes a lot, but usually they give us something more to go on than dropping the ball short of the endzone (does that make Leon Lett Hannibal Lecter?). And as an african-american "journalist" he should be more responsible than that. richards4captain18
seems like a sad attempt at a book, if your labeling people jerks off of one play. Freeman should probably do a bit more research. Flyers2001
I hear Joe DiMaggio could be a bit of a jerk too. But most people just remember he was great. Who cares? Most of these guys are jerks. They're one in a million and been treated like royality since high school. When you run a 4.3 forty your seldom held accountable. Frosty Peters
freeman sounds like the black perez hilton. rascal b. schuylkillian
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"Maybe I'm wrong. ..... I think that's why I wrote that he's a lost cause," Freeman said. Sounds like Freeman never even talked to Jackson! He also said I THINK he did it in college? He should KNOW he did it in college before publishing such a strong opinion about someone. Freeman sounds like the biggest jerk to me. Kecker
Hey DeSean, tell the author that you slept with his wife; hopefully she is not in a coma. oharabri
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Posted by igglegreen 11:20 PM, 07/22/2009 Its an african american non athlete jealous of the fame,youth and athleticism of Desean Jackson. Jackson probably snubbed him for an interview attempt. The writer has no basis in fact. ________________ That's what I got from it also, then again we were only given pieces. If you went into detail and gave examples about why Desean is a jack___, then maybe I could give him credit. He was right about T.O. however....F___ HIM AND HIS SHOW happyblackman
I love it how he compares DeSean Jackson to "those African Americans who once debased and degraded themselves because that's what they believed whites wanted to see." As a man, who happens to be a white guy, I never want to see anyone debase and degrade themselves. I always liked the way Barry Sanders acted after he scored a touchdown. He handed the ball to the referee and trotted back to the sideline. Stop blaming whites. davimcg
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Stir things up, yes. Credibility, not a wit. He's just he local punching bag to me reils and only amusing till the season starts. And I never liked Stern and don't listen to him either. tpizza
duffers, reverse-racism is simply racism...its just that we have to call it that bc its so acceptable vs. the regular kind that everyone is always looking for sbuxjunkie
What number does T.O. rank? NeverSunnyInPhiladelphia
I think Lonewolf is actually a plant working for philly.com. How do websites make money? Advertising. How are advertising rates determined? Based on site views. As much as we may hate to admit it, Lonewolf brings a crowd. Most people don't like him--but that's even BETTER for these purposes. Remember that line in the Howard Stern movie about people that hate him listening longer than people that like him? Need proof about the "Lonewolf effect?" Go back and look at the most commented-on stories. A great majority of them involve Donovan McNabb--and most of those involve Lonewolf stirring things up with anti-McNabb rhetoric. I smell a conspiracy! Well done LW! reils
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Explain Farve on the cover wiff. One of your heroes accused of being an idiot and NO mention of DM in the book. How can you explain that? Truly a conundrum. tpizza
If Jackson is one of the 100 biggest jerks, then the world is in pretty good shape. No question he has shown some bad judgement, that there's a hotdog lurking beneath the surface, but he's no dummy, and so far has been neither a diva or a jerk. Last thing he wants is to cost the Eagles 6 points or 15 yards. Biggest question about him is how he'll act if he catches 90 balls for 15 scores. I'll take the risk, especially since he's trying to use Jerry Rice as a role model. tacklinjoe
ps - cole, you're 100% right. the guy's a chummmmp Zero
I can name 85 people but they are Eagle's fans...I am thinking of 4 reporters and 2 people that wrote in on this79 more to go, but it is easy BobDeschak
He probably said that because DeSean is black. DeSean should accuse him of racism and sue him for millions! Zero
Freeman is a jerk off, he rips anything and everything Philadelphia. cote32
freeman's a loser. how can you make such bold comments and not even interview the kid? ag
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Comment removed.- Freeman is a dumb#ss. Yo DJax, we got your back. Tell Freeman not to come into our city...ever.
Its self serving, self promotion. If sports fans are talking about the book, its free advertising. Just like the Jackson (Michael) family will keep his name in the news by doing whatever crazy s*&t the Jacksons do. Just make sure people keep talking about it. joey bagadonuts
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Comment removed.- This goes to show that there are a ton of people who aren't qualified to write non-fiction books. Journalism and investigative reporting is riddled with incompetents (yes, I mean to use a plural for incompetent people). I hope he sold zero books.
Remember when that "jerk" saved the Eagles from being dead in the water during the NFC championship game. You know, when McNabb threw a pick and with hustle and determination Jackson ran down the defender and stripped the ball back. It's funny he could have a million plays like that and people would still focus on the drop before the endzone that resulted in a TD anyway. jwood
Freeman is trying to make money. We have a real gem in Jackson. jockojohnson
Nothing better to write about?! Who cares what athletes are jerks? They're there for entertainment. I don't watch them because I want to be best buddies with them. I watch them play the game. They don't pay my bills. Get a life Freeman! Jamerock
there's no such thing as reverse racism. racism is racism. hartley59
mike freeman is a horrible columnist and the fact that anyone would publish a book like this is a joke jazztafari
I for one am a huge fan of DeSean. I think he did an extremely stupid thing in the incident that Freeman describes, but for the writer to make the extrapolations he did is beyond idiotic. BigPapiChulo
BTW, did anyone notice that one of wiff's heroes, Brett Farce ...is on the cover!! tpizza
In fact - everyone write a bad review of the book on Amazony and let's see how many "1 stars" we can give it. GO EAGLES! Richard Saunders- I think the writer who posted this story, Sheila Kapadia, is a jerk.
The book averages "1 star" on Amazon. I just created an account and, because i have to wait 24 hours to write a review, I'll give it a crummy review tomorrow. Richard Saunders
Nice Seinfeld ref glassy. LOL Big Lou but pedophiles weren't included in the list. tpizza
Freeman like Bianchi have been hack writers in North Florida for several years until CBS online allowed them to be apart of that bunch of mush. Freeman has always flown off the handle to get attention for himself. Funny while he was in Jacksonville he rarely if ever critcized the Jaguars. I am glad you decided to defend DeSean and calling Freeman way off base. mjanowiak
Like most of the sports writers/on air people here in Jax, they do not know anything about sports unless its about turning left, or their SEC football. Thank Fonzie for the internet! Clarkeisgod
Where did Freddie Mitchell rank? "I want to thank god for blessing me with these hands", How about asking god for the ability to shut the hell up? At least Chase Utley can thank Freddy for introducing him to his wife. rhcjr2
Hey Freeman, the jerk store called...They're running out of you! glassyman
Sheil - Maybe you could contact Freeman and get Lonewolf added to that list. It'd be an honor for him as these are the kinds of resources he loves to quote. He must be somewhat of an athlete, as he displays expert agility at dodging questions and challenges. Big Lou- he's too young to get alabel like that. some of his rep is from college. never heard of the book nor the author nor would i buy it. have a good year DeSean. tfcino1
Thanks reils, I would have mentioned Irvin and Sharpe but wiff didn't mention Aikmen and Elway because it would have immediately disproven his own point [whatever it was supposed to be] which is his typical M.O. Yes, he's obsessed with DM. Anybody who can fit a DM slam into a Pat Burrell blog is definitely obsessed, but then again most Giant fans are after the way DM routinely spanks their team. I guess this is the only way he has at getting back at DM. Sort of like starting rumors in high school. Really juvenile. Sad really. tpizza
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One rookie mistake made in the excitement of what would have been his first NFL touchdown and he is labeled one of the biggest jerks in sports!? That is the most asinine thing I have heard in quite sometime. I guess any fool can get a book published these days. cujat13
I should have said "receivers" not "WRs"...I know Sharpe was a TE (not that he ever blocked...but...) reils
Lonewolf--funny DeNiro reference. But I have to pick up on what tpizza was saying here. Consider these names: Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Shannon Sharpe. Three of the biggest showboat WRs of all-time. Agree? Now consider these names: Troy Aikman, Steve Young and John Elway. Three Hall of Fame QBs...with Super Bowl rings--and considered great leaders. So your inference (and later comment) about McNabb's leadership is absurd. reils
Hey Uncle Eddie, why don't you stick to sniffing people's underware. rocky sullivan
For godsakes no harm no foul for DeSean. Bigtime harm and foul by this idiotically grandstanding writer. jbarts
Brady throws to Moss, Young threw to T.O. Favre is his own showboat, Warner has Boldin and you aren't old enough to mention Bradshaw, Staubach and Unitas. Didn't Saint Big Red draft Jackson [thank God]? What exactly are you smoking wiff? Go back to Giants.com or are you too busy training for E-nutt? tpizza
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Hey Sheil, I think this is a great topic for your blog. Let's put together the real list of 100 losers with the help of the readers. This author has absolutely no clue. Some of my nominees in no particular order: Tanya Harding, Ryan Leaf, Pete Rose, Pacman Jones, OJ Simpson, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Ty Domi, Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, Tony Mandarich, Sammy Sosa, Tim Donaghy, Mike Tyson and Danny Almonte. djack10- Who cares what this Freeman guy says? Who's listening to him except a tiny idiotic following that probably doesn't know the first thing about football anyway? Jackson will be just fine before its all said and done. Most rookies makes mistakes. That's why they're rookies.
To label this kid a "jerk" and a "lost cause" is just irresponsible. rwright611
Dierte--my thoughts exactly. HOW did he even bring Donovan into this?!?!? (And I'm sure he'll say that he didn't mention Donovan and that we did....but anyone who reads these boards knows what he was getting at there...) Lonewolf is OBSESSED with Donovan--I'm not sure it's a personal vendetta, I think it may be unrequited love! He's definitely Robert DeNiro in The Fan. Anyway, anyone who has read any of his articles on sportsline.com knows that Freeman is kind of out there--so this is not at all surprising....but it is ridiculous. As others have noted, it's obvious journalistic sensationalism. reils
Slap stick journalism, thats all thats out there anymore. Listen to the morning show on WIP if you dig this kind of stuff. Some people do and thats cool. Kevin O.- anyone can write a book, doesn't mean the guys is right , its just HIS point of view, and like buttholes, everybody has one! low tide
Does this guyy actuall watch the Eagles? Jackson doesn't seem interested in proving him wrong? What an arrogant jerk. He doesn't need to prove you wrong. Everyone already knows that you are wrong. Jackson's reaction to his mistake wasn't that of a jerk. MikeP
Does this guyy actuall watch the Eagles? Jackson doesn't seem interested in proving him wrong? What an arrogant jerk. He doesn't need to prove you wrong. Everyone already knows that you are wrong. Jackson's reaction to his mistake wasn't that of a jerk. MikeP
Fascinating. Romes- Jackson made a mistake, like no one else has, give me a break. To call him a jerk based upon one play shows you how much research Freeman did for the book. And I believe that Westbrook had to jump over the line to get the TD and he hurt his back. I am sure Jackson heard a few choice words from the veterans on the team and he won't do that again. Scobie1
maybe that play should be on a list for the top 100 boneheaded plays in sports, but how on earth does that make jackson a jerk and a lost cause? hopefully jackson reads freeman's garbage and it motivates him. as mcnabb would say, "this is black on black crime." NovaWildcats36- Freeman is a knucklehead. Whatever sells the book, right?
At least he had the brains to put himself in with Jerry Rice as far as training and becoming a pro before he even got into the league. We have had Allen Iverson and T.O. in this town the guy is an angel. bsaw
Comment removed.- wher in africa and wher in america is he from? wow, thats alot on real estate to lay cliam to ... i have friends from egypt, morocco, madagascar and south africa ..try calling them african-american, HAh!! daveH
Of all the junkies, felons, wife beaters, and otherwise completely insane athletes that have come and gone, how is DeSean Jackson even part of the conversation? This is absurd. birds4ever
If he catches 80 balls for 1,000+ yards this season, he can be the biggest Jerk in the world, I could care less pflynn20
I'd be happy to take a whole team of jerks if DeSean is the definition. Yes, that was a bone-head play but I'd be shocked if he didn't learn from that (and I'd be disappointed in the vets if they didn't give him an ear full). Let's see how things go as he matures. So far, I have nothing but support for DeSean. greenday
I remember when this column used to actually report news or fresh commentary, not just parrot what other bloggers and journalists are saying. This article is about a book that came out in May, but did not come to the attention to Kapadia until a talk radio station recently had the author on....and it turns out the comments on DeSean were actually made in a Dallas newspaper last year. Who cares what a Dallas writer said about DeSean Jackson last year. Is this really news? All Kapadia does is just search the Internet all day and find any reference to the Eagles to put in this space. I preferred it when this article gave us actual news from sources in the Eagles camp or NFL folks. SeanMcD
How does someone playing for one year become one of the top 100 worst jerks of all time? johnnysanz3
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Freeman is one the 86 biggest idiots in sports journalism. DJ was a rookie last year. He made a mistake. Thats it. No story here. To call him one of the 86 biggest jerks in sports history or whatever, makes absolutely no sense. I can't believe someone paid this man to write a completely useless book like this. Freeman is jealous, that's his motivation. allen_jones
The day we drafted him I had two former Cal students over at my place watching with me. They DEFINITELY had issues with him. They appreciated his skill, but apparently he was extremely divisive in the locker room and caused an implosion his last year there similar to what T.O. did to us. I hope his time with Jerry Rice, and some growth on his part, has helped him grow as a person. VicFromLA
Anyone familiar with Freeman's work at CBSSports.com knows that to call him a journalist is a stretch; he's pure sensationalism. A book like this, as well "researched" as I'm sure it is, is no surprise. His work essentially consists of a few unremarkable observations about sports and a few obnoxious moralistic rants that range from paranoid to unforgivably stupid. Coniglio101
this is garbage GillyKingofPhilly17
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What a joke...comparing him to TO? Most receivers have egos. That doesn't mean he is a jerk. As far as TO's antics, demanding the ball a side, I thought they were funny. Pom poms, sharpie, eagle flapping were all funny. The only one that was pushed to far was standing on the Cowboys star. phigglesfan75- Freeman has been a reverse-racist jerk for many years on that site. Most have his articles have racial overtones. Desean was a rookie, he gets some slack duffers
My brother and I have started calling him "1 Yard" because of that stupidity, but he was in his 2nd professional game and got a little excited. He won't do it again, but we like to have a good laugh at his expense. But he is going to be a special WR, the way he works with the d-backs in practice to learn his tells says alot about his workethic, maybe this arthor should do some work on that too. Bleue
Amazing, that Freeman could publish a book calling Jackson a jerk, and then say, "Maybe I'm wrong." Hey, cement-head, why are you calling him a jerk and then admitting you're wrong? J H
First of all, Freeman sounds like a jerk...takes one to know one, right? More importantly, Freeman bases his entire opinion of Jackson on that one play? He doesn't appear to know anything about Jackson or have talked to Jackson or anyone who knows him. Anyone who tries to sum up someone's entire character and life on one play like that is a moron. JimG- on another note...StopThePanic, I sh* t you not, I WAS playing D-Jax that week on my fantasy team. I seriously wanted to go to Dallas myself & throw the TV set on top of his head. I lost that week by 4 stinking points...100% true story so help me god.
- what a joke MPatt24
He was just a little arrogant but that comes with being young...no big deal really... MFPhils- it's crazy that a man would rip into another man of his race, and then proceed to basically call him an Uncle Tom when Desean is nothing but a credit to his race & the human race in general. I'm mean the guy has worked hard to where he has gotten, and in every sense exemplifies what determination can do. and I think he does with class.
Its an african american non athlete jealous of the fame,youth and athleticism of Desean Jackson. Jackson probably snubbed him for an interview attempt. The writer has no basis in fact. igglegreen
Jackson let the ball go. He didn't go stand on Dallas' star, pull out a sharpie, grab pom-poms, flap his arms like a bird (although I would've personally like that one), jump into the stands, riverdance, give the ball CPR...am I missing any? You either drop the ball, or hand it to the ref; He dropped the ball without even a legal spike ...what a jerk (if you can't tell........im being sarcastic. Mr. Freeman...give the guy a great...pick on T.O. rammbinc
These comments by Freeman are absurd and harsh for someone who probably has never met Jackson and is making these comments only from observing a few plays Lemur
Freeman probably had DJax on his fantasy team and lost because of the boneheaded play. Now he's getting some payback. Sounds to me like he's the jerk. StopThePanic
Freeman seems like another journalist trying to make a name for himself by putting others down. Sad. Theo1980
I could robably name 85 Philadelphia players who are/were bigger jerks than Desean mikeyhigs
Well, if he is a jerk, he fits right in with this organization. UncleEddie


