I think it’s a good development for DeSean Jackson and for the Eagles that Jackson decided to sign a 5-year contract extension, so that he can get his mind off of contracts and finances and focused on football. He now has some security which will probably allow him to be more productive in 2012.
It wasn’t the best of deals for Jackson, who is regarded as one of the top 10 to 15 receivers in the league, but it does give him immediate money and security depending on how he uses the funds. In truth the deal is really only $15 million dollars of guaranteed money, but that’s more than the $9.4 million which he would have been guaranteed to make as a franchise player.
Again, I think in the short-term and in the long run, this is good for the Eagles and good for Jackson. I could tell from sitting in the Nova Care Complex that a big weight had been taken off of his shoulders. He was clearly under financial pressure and that has been relieved. Hopefully he’s wise about the way he spends and invests that money.
As far as the football team in concerned, Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Brent Celek and the rest of the offense aren’t the same without the little guy lined up outside. They don’t need to go into the 2012 season with a bunch of changes on offense, especially playing without one of their major pieces. They need to focus on solving their turnover and red zone problems.
Like him or not, Jackson has been integrally involved in some of the most exciting plays and wins in Eagles history and he’s only 25 years old. The downside is Jackson’s size, lack of production in the red zone and vulnerability to being pounded into another concussion.
The Eagles have Jackson under contract for the next five years, as well as not a great deal of exposure if he were to get hurt. If Jackson continues to produce the way he has so far in his career, he will be rewarded for his play.
“I’m happy with the deal that I’ve gotten,” he said. “If I wasn’t happy, I wouldn’t have signed it. I’m very happy with it, and I felt I got my worth. I just want to go out there and continue to play at a high level, regardless of what [other] deals come.”
Teams have been forced by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to spend more money on their players, so the Eagles decided to spend that money on guys who have already contributed to this football team and will likely continue to do so, like Trent Cole, Todd Herremans and Jackson.
The National Football League is a business, but it’s also a series of relationships. For the rest of the players, to see their teammates rewarded for production is a good thing.
I’ve always noticed that for some reason Andy Reid and Jackson have had a special closeness to their relationship that is more than a simple player-coach relationship. Reid believed in Jackson when he drafted him and it’s proven to be one of the best picks he’s ever made in his 14-years career as the Birds head coach.
He’s challenged him to play at the level that he’s capable of and for the most part, Jackson has done that.
Following this past season, the Birds could have easily moved on from Jackson, but they didn’t. They took into account the effect Jackson’s speed has on defenses and how his mere presence helps his teammates. The Birds need him to be more productive than he was a year ago and that’s something he seemed eager to accomplish.
“I have five bright years to look forward to. In one of those years, I’m going to guarantee a Super Bowl because we’ve been close the past four years”, Jackson said during the news conference, “Hands down, I think we’re one of the best teams in the NFL.”
Good job Desean. Congrats, keep your head on straight,stay away from the haters and bring us home a Sb!
First Vince Young claiming Dream Team now Desean guaranteeing a Supwrbowl. Great. I’m sure the media will be all over this during the season. Why can’t players just keep their mouths shut?
btc24 – because we need some new attitude and swagger around here. Mcnabb was too much of a good media boy who laughed and played around too much and Desean and this crew brings the type of attitude we need around here. Hopefully it makes everybody play better and become more of a dominant player on this team. J Mac needs that kind of WR counterpart to influence his playmaking ability as well. Screw the media, i’d rather hear that Desean will guarantee us a SB within his five-year contract than “i’ve got to do a better job and put players in the right position to win games” crap from Reid. Plus, Desean will play “balls out” from here on out without a contract hanging over his head. My best advice to you is sit back, shut up and enjoy the ride.
Cripes… this is the 3rd time I have heard that he is gonna be a different guy because he doesn’t have a contract dispute. I will wait to see that actually happen on the field. Call me hater if you want, but other players last year had bigger complaints than D-Jax and they played through it. See Ray Rice and Matt Forte. Just pointing out a fact.
Keep cheering for the guy that quit last year.
Keep hoping that the same pouting teenager behaviour won’t happen again once he starts seeing other WRs get better and better deals than him. (because that’s going to happen)
vinnie – you’ve been on point with some things in the past, but I gotta call you out here. First of all, you’re arrogantly predicting the future – don’t be a fool.
Second, now you’ve really proven that you’re not an unconditional Eagles fan – you’re all about the individual players, not the team. Desean has warts and flaws, and a stupid little goatee. But he can do some great things for the team – you know, like racking up yards and touchdowns – fyi, they help toward wins and stuff. Get over your moral agenda – yeah, he’s a punk – about 85-90% of pro athletes are these days. Root for the team, or not – you’re choice. But expecting a certain level of moral character and quality among playmaking NFL receivers is just plain silly.
Seems as if Mathis is getting the Birds into a bidding war for his services…Im sorry but is the guy really worth being overpaid? I know he was really good last year, but was he great and will he be great going into the future? Personally if I was the RAvens i would hesitate from giving this guy a huge deal like he wants because the fact of the matter is he was a noboady up until this year in the Eagles system. All he did was bounce around the league as a journeyman. I know the whole sack stat that everybody throws out there but lets be real stats can be deceiving sometimes. Just saying, I have no problem if the Eagles over pay for their best player like Shady mainly because you can’t find Shadys on the street like they did a MAthis type
Schiller, agreed, we can’t like all the players, but it makes for a negative, almost miserable experience to continue talk negative when he’s here for at least two years, it’s time for a moratorium on all negative thoughts, the gm is a nerd, we have our criticisms of Reid, but the team is taking shape from within, which is a positive sign, this team has a chance to be very good next year
Per Jeff Mclane, Mathis has left Baltimore without a done deal…Both the Raven and the EAgles have made offers.
Djax take care of you and your family, now lets go ball.
…whatever. I still think Dunta Robinson took his manhood and he’ll never play fearless like he did prior to that hit.