In the much talked about Sporting News article in which DeSean Jackson expressed his confidence that they would have an outstanding offense despite the departure of Donovan McNabb, he made more very candid comments.
One of them concerned the claim that he received pressure from offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg after he suffered a concussion in the game against the Washington Redskins.
“I can remember we went up to New York (Week 14) ‚Äì that was a huge game for us. The week before, [the Giants had] beaten Dallas and I didn‚Äôt play (at Atlanta) because I had a concussion. It was iffy if I’d come back and play. Our offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, said some things, trying to question my toughness. I was like, ‚ÄòCoach, I just got a concussion. This is my brain. If it‚Äôs anything else, my shoulder, whatever, I‚Äôm going to play.'”
Concussions are a hot button issue with the NFL, right now.
I would imagine that Mornhinweg would contest this claim.  He might say that Jackson percieved that he was questioning his toughness.
The commissioner and every team in the league are feeling the heat about concussions and you have a player who believes he’s being pressured to return to action after a concussion.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver doesn’t buy the rebuilding line which some are peddling.¬† He doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that they have been making the playoffs and on the doorstep to the Super Bowl in the last couple of years
“I wouldn‚Äôt call it rebuilding. We’re so close every year to getting to the Super Bowl. My first year we went all the way to the NFC Championship game, and last year we made it to the playoffs. No matter what happens during the year, we always find a way to make it to the playoffs.
‚ÄúThat’s the best thing about it. We’re always in the competition to be one of the best teams in the NFL. I don’t think we lost anything, even with McNabb being gone. Somebody steps out, the next person just has to step in and do a good job.”
Jackson believes the combination of he and Kevin Kolb will be pure magic and he’s not afraid to say it.¬† “It’s going to be spectacular. With his talent and hopefully my ability to get him the ball in stride and yards after the catch, those type of things ‚Äì it will be pretty special.”
He feels the same way about the combination of Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek along with he and Kolb.¬† Jackson loves the vibes that he’s getting this young group. “The sky’s the limit to me. I think you can call us the Young Guns: We‚Äôre all young, and we’re all explosive. We have a great time playing together. Our camaraderie in the locker room, the joking around ‚Äì it’s great times.”
The speedster also offered an explanation for why teams were so concerned about his attitude leading into the draft.
“A lot of people could probably take my energy and misunderstand it, say ‘He’s trying to be cocky.’ No. I think what makes me special and unique is that I’m never a follower. I’m the type of guy who always wants to be different, but at the same time, I’m a team guy.”
Def shouldn’t said the stuff about the concussion. Leave that in the locker room or until you are on a different team. Don’t put your coach’s name out there for something that’s a very sensitive issue in the league. I know he’s just being honest, but somethings just don’t need to be said especially in this town.
I heard, thru a pretty reliable source, that WR Coach D McCully forced D-Jax to consume
“Green Beer” on St Patties Day at an Irish Pub down on South Street…
(Is nothing sacred anymore…)
The concussion comment is no big deal…even with the issue being so “hot” in the NFL. Every week players are injured and every week players play through injuries. It is nothing new to find out that the O-Coord. is trying to get all his players on the field if they can play. It is his job to make sure people are nursing injuries that they can play though especially when the team needs it.
Just because it was about a concussion people are going to take it the wrong way. Injuries happen all the time, and more often than not players play through and with them. But if he wasn’t feeling good enough to play there is no knock on D-Jax saying he isn’t ready to go and there is no knock on Marty for asking him and encouraging him to play if he can.
Stop looking for controversy…
*aren’t nursing injuris
Good..I wish DeSean woulda said more.
eaglebeliever, I agree but at the same time it’s wasn’t just about him asking if he could play. It sounds as if Marty was questioning his toughness which is putting pressure on the player. That’s entirely different than what you’re saying. And it does make a difference because it is a concussion and not a leg injury. If a coach is pressuring any player to play with a concussion, that’s serious whether you think it is or not.
When he says “Our offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, said some things, trying to question my toughness”, that doesn’t sound like a coach just asking if he was ok. Said some things? What things could Marty had said that would make him feel like this and not a coach actually caring about his well-being?
And just the fact that Desean felt that pressure is telling of not only Marty but the NFL. You can dismiss it all you want as a coach just seeing if a player is well enough to play but that’s clearly not what Desean felt. It would appear he felt it was more than that.
Don’t worry Jimmy, I have a feeling he ain’t shutting up anytime soon.
Everything’s great in May. Hopefully, it’ll be the same in December.
G please talk to this young fella and get him a pr person pronto.
Good i wish he would of said more…if a coach who is fat and over weight is guna sit there..get it “sit”..lol..and question a concussion..thats a big deal..ask Andre waters family if he was outta line..he wasnt and any coach who questions player about concussions should be put on blast too..they should take marty and put him 60 minutes and ask him does he care about the players and thee family…go ahead DJ..keep bumpin those gums…he is in the right..
if everything was sacred and should be kept in house…then there should be no media..thats all they live off of
uh, jaxeagle, you want a guy who can’t spell or use grammar to be in charge of a pr person? Someone who for years sold out to virus mongerers to make an extra buck? He’s got a PR person, he’s got two – Dave Spadaro and Drew Rosenhaus – not saying either are that respectable, but sh*t, he can say whatever he wants, he’s got indispensable skills. Bottom line
If Big Red is not smiling, I am. You absolutely need a player like DeSean Jackson, no matter what he says. He reminds me of Charles Barkley, a serial truth-teller. He can call the Pope Jewish and I wouldn’t care. He plays man….