Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie spoke on Tuesday regarding the future of the team. While most of Lurie’s speech was spent praising now 14th year head coach Andy Reid and his track record, which was sickening to hear, he did touch on wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
Jackson is set to become a free agent in March but has expressed a desire to return to the Eagles in 2012. Up until today Jackson hasn’t received much recognition from the team that shows they want to bring him back but a vote of confidence from the head guy certainly can help his quest to return to the Birds.
Lurie advised he would welcome back the two time pro bowl receiver as long as both sides can agree on financial terms. Lurie never questioned his character instead stating the only differences between DeSean and the team are financial.
Lurie said “I would welcome him back. I think if the right terms develop, he would be welcomed back.”
Lurie even went as far as praising number 10 in his effort down the stretch of the season. “Listen, DeSean is a terrific player, and I think his attitude and his whole approach in the last month of the season was terrific. High energy. I think he started to realize and get it. Terrific player. I really don’t agree with those that don’t think he’s tapped his potential fully. I think he hasn’t and he has a chance to get even better.”
Although most of Luries speech I didn’t agree with regarding head coach Andy Reid he hit the nail on the head with DeSean Jackson. It’s nice to see the owner recognize the special talent he has at the wide receiver position with DeSean. Hopefully his words about DeSean will resonate with Andy Reid, Joe Banner, and Howie Roseman when they begin wrapping their head around the DeSean situation.
This team needs playmakers on the field and in order to progress you need to keep your play makers happy. Losing DeSean 
could potentially set this offense up for regression and with this off season and next season being so critical to the future of this team it’s important to have all of your playmakers ready to go.
Jackson has proved over the past month that he can be a model teamate. He played very well and almost got back to the 1,000 yard plateau with a late season run coming up just 39 yards short.
Regarding possible negotiations between the team and DeSean Lurie said “We have the leverage where we can do what we choose to do and control his situation.” Jackson can be slapped with the franchise tag in 2012 which would guarantee him the average of the 5 highest paid NFL wide receivers based on 2011 salary cap figures which would be about $9.4 million.
Since entering the league in 2008 DeSean ranks 10th in the NFL with 4,096 receiving yards. He has 28 touchdowns which are comprised of 21 receiving, 3 rushing, and 4 punt returns. The fact that DeSean adds an element of being a big threat punt returner is a bonus for this team. He strikes fear into the hearts of kicking teams, just ask the New York Giants.
If you’re bringing back Andy Reid I see no reason the team can’t strike up a deal with DeSean to bring him back for at least one more season as well. The team owes it to DeSean after paying everyone else big money and DeSean owes it to the team and the fans to perform at a high level and bounce back from his pedestrian 2011 season.
Only time will tell if the team actually strikes up a deal with DeSean but having the support of the owner surely can’t hurt the possibility of a return to the Eagles in 2012. I applaud Lurie for stepping up and supporting the young wide out. As far as the rest of his speech goes, well that’s another story.
Yeah, he has his support, not his $$$. See ya D-Jax!
Andy, Howie, and Joe will bring back Reggie Brown!!!!
Guess what Maclin you already were just a dime a dozen reciever with DJax expect to be the 7th best reciever behind Nicks, Cruz, Bryant, Austin, Moss and Whitten in the NFC east. Jackson had a terrible year and still had 100 more yards than Maclin. Should be talking about replacing that stiff Maclin. Hope Riley Cooper can open things up for you.
Alot of talk about how Maclin was this # 1 reciever so I looked up his stats. 2009 55 catches 762 yards and 4 tds. 2010 70 catches 964 yards and 10 tds. 2011 63 catches 859 yards and 5 tds. 0 1000 yard seasons, 0 pro bowls and cant return shit. Talk about someone who gets a free pass.
I give MAclin cresit for comeing back strong this Season after missing all Summer Camp and obvioulsly was not in top football shape the first 4-6 weeks of the Season.. He also took a lot of tough hits that D-Jax would have never gotten up in and he finished the Season pretty strong and I believe Maclin missed a few games with that shoulder injury and is still the best Red-Zone WR the Eagles have… I don’t think of him of a True #1 Reciever but a definite #2 WR and the most consistent Receiver the Eagles have bar none.
Get a bigger WR with speed to work the outside and I believe Maclin can work out of the slot where I think he can put up 75 Cathces and a 1000 Yards and still get his 8-10 TD’s a Season.. Maclin will be play at a high level for the next 5-6 Seasons if he stays healthy where I think D-Jax has only a few good seasons left.. If I were Coach, I would have D-Jax on the field for about 30 snaps a game and I bet he would put up similar #’s but take less hits and be more fresh and productive when he’s out there.. Once the Offense is within the 25 Yard line, I wouldn’t even have D-Jax on the field for there is not enough field to stretch at that point, making his speed useless, and becuase he’s too small and frail that he simply gets lost in the tighter coverages and more traffic that occurs once in the Red-Zone
Eagles have 2 # 2 WR’s in D-Jax/Maclin and a #3 WR in Avant and a #4 WR in Cooper.. They really don’t have a true #1 WR in my opinion
If we sign either V-Jax, or Bowe, D-Jax won’t be missed.