It’s going to be interesting to see what happens if the Eagles offensive attack becomes more of a pure west coast offense with the emphasis on short throws and Jeremy Maclin becomes the number one target while Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson is negotiating his new contract.
How will Jackson greet the new style attack if he’s not being thrown to as much as Maclin, at the same time he and his agent Drew Rosenhaus are fighting it out with the Eagles front office?
Right now, Jackson is willing to be patient, even though he’s severely underpaid.¬† The current CBA doesn’t allow a player who is playing under his rookie contract to be given a raise in salary of more than 30%.
Yesterday, Jackson didn’t respond to a question from Philly.com about the Eagles working around the CBA problem with new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, by giving him a bonus of $10 million dollars. He pointed them to his agent Drew Rosenhaus to discuss that.
The Pro Bowl wideout did talk a bit about his attitude concerning his current contract.
“I’m not going to panic,” Jackson told Philly.com yesterday.¬†”I’m not going to sit here and be a crybaby about it. I definitely know what I’m worth.”
“It’s unfortunate, but I can’t get frustrated,” Jackson said. “It’s not going to change until the CBA . . . You just have to deal with it and hope something will work out.”
Will he continue to feel that way if he sees his receiving numbers falling during a tough contract negotiation?
I remember him storming out of the locker room without talking to the media after the Tampa Bay game this past season where he caught only one pass for one yard.  Maclin had a big game because the Buccaneers dedicated all of coverages to taking Jackson away from the Birds and it left the rookie wideout from Missouri in single coverage.
Imagine what Jackson’s reaction will be, if he’s not having the ball thrown to him as much and still dealing with being unable to workout a contract that stops him from bing a drastically underpaid Pro Bowl wide receiver.
I think it would be hard for him not to reason that his contract and lack of catches are connected.  Jackson could wind up frustrated with both his contract and the new style of offense.
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told us this weekend that he planned on tailoring the offense to fit the strength of new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, who is supposed to be a more accurate thrower than Donovan McNabb.
It’s conceivable that the short throw will become focus of the passing attack.¬† Maclin who is bigger, fits that offense better than Jackson who may be the best deep threat currently in the league.
Last year the Eagles led the league in deep throws for touchdowns with McNabb as the quarterback.¬† We’ve talked about McNabb’s strong arm and battles with inaccuracy.
It made sense for him to look deep to Jackson, but with Kolb at the helm and the new emphasis on the short passing game, the bigger Maclin is likely to benefit from the change.
Everything is cool right now, but let’s see what happens next season when this new offense is executed and Jackson continues to be underpaid.
Seriously G? Everything is going well now, but you want to speculate and anticipate negativity because that’s you’re job right? To make people think negatively because that’s what the bulk of your fan base wants? This is really dumb. You can’t enjoy the positives, you just say, well it will turn into a problem…you’re going to create the perception of the problem whether it’s there or not. Everytime Maclin has a big catch or game, you’ll say – uh oh, Jackson must be jealous. Everytime Jackson doesn’t smile and say ‘Haleluya!’, you’ll read it as him being upset. You want to push him outof town right? That must be it.
I like what schiller said. Why is everyone assuming that jackson is not going to be the number one receiver and that maclin is going to take his place? Desean is going to be amazing this year and I for 1 don’t think that our O is going to be pure west-coast. Lets just run Jackson out of town and watch him light it for years to come!
Chriss – it goes even futher than that – why is everyone assuming that there will be a “#1″ reciever? We have recievers who have good, diverse, skills. They’ll get thrown to, and they will catch the ball. The ‘#1” label is kinda fake and useless. Did the saints or colts have a #1 reciever? Not really, they spread the ball around to multiple weapons. That’s what we’ve always done. No different. It’s weak media analysis that creats the ‘#1’ concept. There’s WRs positions, that are different. Someone like Gary who goes to practices and played on NFL teams should know to honor the system that the coaches and teams use, not the ESPN suits…
I hope everything works out. And the media shouldn’t be trying to stir up trouble by referring to Kolb’s deal. Especially when the circumstances are a little different. Since Kolb only had 1 more year left, it was easier to get a deal done than with more years left because you don’t want to give out too much bonus money. If he has to wait another year, it would be interesting if Jackson doesn’t make as many big plays so he wouldn’t be able to get as much money as he would have this year.
schiller totally agree with what you said I was trying to say that but didn’t know how i was going to type it out….our receivers are all great and I love the Idea of spreading the ball around…lets get back to what won use 12-13 games a season….
what used to win us 12 to 13 games was #5 throwing to greg lew todd stinkston james trash and comapany now we will watch washington win 12 to 13 gms
Wow. What an article…this football talk in the purest ..not…another waste of time. We finally! !!! ..get good receivers and all I hear now is DJ isn’t a Number one receiver, problems about a contract, he’s not west coast WR, its all lame..He will get paid..A d I’m sure the Eagles told him that, just not this year because of the 30% rule..I gaurentee once the new CBA is in place he will get one. Then u guys can find something about his childhood to make up n article and say he’s a gangster or something dumb n not useful..
Lets be real, the Eagles are not going to pay Jackson for his service!
DJax will get paid eventually, but situations in life change, it’s “not fair” and none of us these days better start counting their chickens!! Eagles football is not a priority in the big picture of life; even DJax knows that after losing his caring father not so long ago.
He will get paid..As a Pro bowl WR and Pro Bowl Returner he will get his money..The kid flat out sells..And that’s what The Eagles worry about most..How much can they make off a guy..You don’t let guys like this walk..they will adapt to having two elite WRs..
Does anyone else wonder why silencer complains about every article but find it interesting enough to have to comment on them? I’m confused,
@ scorp..Not complaining. Just wondering how so many so called Eagles fans, have so much controversial and negative stuff to say..That hardly reflects football..Most of u are fair weather fans..u b!tch when we don’t have weapons and b!tch about them once we get them..
I’m baffled at the perception that “the media” is trying to stir up trouble.
DeSean Jackson has openly expressed dissatisfaction with his pay many times. He complained that he should have been paid as if he were a No. 1 pick after the draft. Then, at the beginning of camp last year, he told the media that he was putting in the work to be a No. 1 receiver, and, of course, he expected to be paid accordingly. Remember, he was drafted in the second round only because there questions about his work ethic.
Jackson also inferred that he was displeased with the disparity between his and Maclins’ pay. He didn’t like the fact that Maclin made significantly more money just because he was drafted in the first round. Jackson felt his production during his first year warranted more money.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that both he and Rosenhaus believe his pay should be brought in line with his production, CBA aside. Think about it. Both Maclin and Kolb were rewarded lots of money before ever producing on the field.
With all that said, how is it the media who is stirring up trouble? Do you think Jackson’s desire for more money will go away if it’s not reported. Further, if Jackson didn’t report for camp because of money issues, wouldn’t everyone be up in arms if his dissatisfaction were not reported by the media?
Everyone knows how Drew Rosenhaus operates. Undoubtedly, he wanted T.O. to cause trouble so that he could effectuate a trade. Remember, Rosenhaus would have gotten nothing from T.O. without a new contract, because he was not T.O.’s original agent.
When Kolb got his bonus, despite the lack of CBA, I’m sure Rosenhaus went to both Jackson and the Eagles saying that Jackson also deserved a signing bonu. We all know that anyone’s career can end at any time. It doesn’t even have to be during a game. It can during off-season workouts.
Personally, I, and many others, believe the NFL has it all wrong in how they pay rookies. That’s one reason why the Eagles traded out of the first round so many times. It doesn’t make sense to pay an unproven player tons of money, especially when it sometimes requires proven veterans to earn less or get cut from the team.
I applaud G for reporting an existing and potentially growing problem.
Unfair that Kolb got the bonus??? As far as I know DJax isn’t in the last year of his contract. Some pot stirring going on here G. DJax will get paid, letting him walk will be worse than 5 getting traded to the Skins. Kid’s just gotta suck it up and play. He’ll get his numbers for sure and all will be wellwellwell in Eagle land…Perk UP!
@ Drummer…Yea it is media stirring up trouble..they ask the questions about his contract and all he does is answer them truthfully. He doesn’t hold personal press conferences to address his contract..Get real dude..I applaud the honesty when asked the question..I honestly doubt he will pull a T.O.. He has more class than that, and he knows his late father wouldn’t approve of a classless approach. The kid was raised right..and if I’m desean I would do the same..he the best player and biggest playmaker on our team..he’s guna sell the most Jersey’s and memorabilia..he’s a cash cow..if he holds out it will explode more than Maclins..the unproven rookie last year…so yea it is media stirring the pot..if I didn’t get asked it would go unnoticed, because DJ is handling his situation with some class.
Drummer-I agree 100% but I take it a step further. ALL contracts should be paid differently based on any one players performance. There should be 3 Tiers of compensation based on player performance and the player can only increase his salary by producing on the field. That way you’re not paying JaBUSTUS noHussle 39 million dollars when there’s 10 other players that put in the work they’re not paid for.
Drummer, do you really think that DJax brought a megaphone to work and started professing his thoughts and feelings? Do you honestly not know that the media gets paid to hound him and ask leading questions? Do you realize how many times Garry uses the words ‘if’ ‘could’ ‘would’ ‘i think’ ‘its conceivable’ or ends with a ‘?’ ? Perk up geinius. But you read it as fact and an inevitability.
WWW, I like the idea. Anything that’s performance based works for me.
Silence, I respect your opinion but I disagree. I don’t think asking a question changes the way Jackson feels about his situation. It only makes us aware of how he feels.
@ well..the rookie pay is outrageous and needs to be changed to a fixed scale..where a rookie can come out n make more than guys like brees..and based on production. Agreed on that part.
WWW, keep in mind that a player can have a career-ending injury at any time. There are no guarantees that DJax will be paid.
Schiller, my comment was not based solely on this article. Jackson has addressed this issues many times before.
I’m wondering if the media That’s covers the Eagles are actually fans..or undercover cowboy’s fans, paid by Jones to blow sh!t up..Then we cut TO and they sign them..LOL..I can’t stand the media..Schiller I agree..I still think it should be none of any of our business how much they get paid..I know Here in the city u don’t talk about pay because of controversy. Its private, people lose there jobs if they tell another co-worker there pay..so if u guys thinks its OK..post ur salary on here…G what do make a year…it pointless to discuss contract talk if u weren’t trying to piss someone off so they can get a story..lame.
G, knows what he’s talking about here and I’ve been saying the same for a while. If you get close to the team it’s obvious that desean is a great talent and he knows it!!!! Like any other reciever of his caliber, any hint of disrespect brings the Ego to the forefront. This thing will blow if not by Desean, his agent Rosenhaus. When you read T.O.’s post eagle comments, he states plainly that he was following his agent advise, and that led to the contract he wanted….(But, not with the Eagles of course) . “SHOW ME THE MONEY” …….This will get real fast, especially when the real bullets fly and their new Cinderalla’s carriage turns into a pumpkin.
Schiller, perhaps you confused my comment with someone else’s. I never mentioned any megaphones nor inevitabilities. In fact, I said, “I applaud G for reporting an existing and POTENTIALLY growing problem.”
I found the 49ers philosophy on extending contracts interesting:
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Patrick Willis has developed into an All-Pro under Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, and the San Francisco 49ers’ coach expects his top defender to become better than he ever was.
Willis is a big deal to the 49ers — and he earned himself a big new deal Tuesday because of it.
The standout middle linebacker signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension that takes him through the 2016 season and includes $29 million in guaranteed money from the 49ers. He’s set to make $10 million per season.
“Wow. It’s been a long journey, but it’s not over yet. I feel like it’s just beginning,” Willis said during a news conference at team headquarters. “It means a lot. It shows they really wanted me here — and it shows what they want and what I want are the same things: to win.”
It’s another big offseason splash by new 49ers personnel chief Trent Baalke, who took charge after general manager Scot McCloughan’s abrupt departure in March. The team’s lead negotiator, Paraag Marathe, worked with Willis’ agent, Ben Dogra, over the recent months to seal the deal. Willis had two years left on his contract, too.
Drummer. Ok, but my point is that G is (once again), confidently predicting the future (maybe coincidentally in a negative light). That’s crazy – this from the man behind the 15 incorrect mock drafts. Yet he’s drawing conclusions based on assumptions that make everybody think ‘the worst’ is going to happen – Jackson injured big or disgruntled. Neither has happened, but he’s suggesting it’s an inevitability. You then implied that Jackson said all of that on his own. But rather, he said those things in reaction to the media asking him about it. Call it ‘doing their jobs’, but they asked questions that hint at jealousy and ego first mentality. They didn’t have to write stories about that stuff, there was plenty of good play on the field to report about. The media DOES slant things negatively – any Philadelphian that can tell you the 3 main ingredients in a cheesesteak knows that.
Drummer I agree with your first post but the media adds to the fire by bringing up certain stuff. And in the case that would be Kolb’s deal. Imagine if Chris Johnson got a new deal, then someone from the Philly media would bring that up. And while it may be them doing their job, but it’s still adding fuel to the fire. And I agree the problems won’t go away if no one reported it, but the media know exactly what they are doing. They ask jaded questions to try to get certain answers so they can write an article that says “Jackson is unhappy with the Eagles”. The media does it all the time. This is not the only instance where they ask certain questions to try to get a skewed answer. Kolb deal has nothing to do with his so I don’t even know what’s the point in bringing that up. And they are going to use Desean Jackson as long as he is here because he is already become someone that doesn’t need to be in front of camera or microphone.
If you think the media can’t add fuel to the fire then you are kidding yourself. They ask leading questions all the time and it’s up to the player to turn it around to where the answer isn’t controversial. Remember the whole thing about them asking McNabb “did the team show their youth?” Instead of McNabb totally getting it away from the youth he fell right into the trap and everyone couldn’t stop talking about it for 2 weeks. The media person might as well just said “Do you think the young guys are to blame?” The media is the one going down there still trying to find out about him and his feelings. And like you said, we already know, so why are they still asking him about it? Why not leave it alone if everyone knows how he feels? They know Desean will give them material to print.
The team that literally raped or Eagles twice in a row last year, have a new beast at receiver named “Dez Bryant”. This guy haven’t played a down yet will make more than our “2” position pro bowl receiver “Jackson”. Jackson must be pissed right now to think his #2 receiver behind him makes more money, rookies in this class makes more without proving anything, and their new quarterback have absolutely no arm to thrown the long ball. Desean’s stock is going to drop like a rock, and something tells me our golden standard organization will use this leverage once again. If this was Dallas, this kid would have been paid “point blank”…This technicality is something the Eagles knew was coming and instead of giving Jackson his money last year, they waited for leverage. This is how this team do business and expect players to lay it all on the line. Well, at least we do have a championship team in philadelphia….GO PHILLIES!!!!
SONGSRME2 , I agree with you 100% that Jackson’s stock will drop, because the FO will scheme to make sure that they don’t pay the man for what he is worth!.
Just based on what I’ve seen so far Celek is going to be the #1 receiver in this re-worked offense which is why Celek is so far up Kolb’s a$$. Jackson is going to be in a difficult situation, especially if he sustains a major injury this season, so I just see this as eventual pain for the fans, pain for Jackson because of an eventual long and probably public divorce. With so many players getting shivved out at 30+ I doubt many young players will buy into the longer deals worth less money proposition which will make the situation worse. Less players will feel obligated to stay loyal to the organization and Jackson won’t just ignore that.
The team problem is that Kolb is delusional and thinks he’s better than McNabb without having a realistic grip how many QBs have come and gone through this organization in it’s 60 year history which is really going to be the downfall of the team.
Hopefully, Jake Locker doesn’t get injured and hopefully The Eagles don’t screw it up and win one more game than what’s necessary to draft Jake Locker next year.
Go Phillies!