In just two short seasons, DeSean Jackson has become the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest playmaker. He deserves to be paid like it, but because the Eagles used a second-round pick on him in 2008, they have him locked up for four years and don’t have to give him anything right now, even if fellow draft classmate Chris Johnson got a revised deal.
And a league source tells Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the Eagles don’t plan on adjusting his contract right now. Unlike Johnson, DeSean is on a four-year contract. As a first-round pick, Johnson has a five-year deal, and that fifth year is the only year that a rookie can make more than the minimum. So, the Titans bumped up some of the money from the fifth year, and essentially didn’t give him any more dough than he was supposed to make. They simply moved some cash around to make things good for now.
Plus, Johnson was scheduled to only make $500,000 this year, with DeSean set to make a little more than $800,000, according to McLane.
As it is now, we don’t think Jackson plans on holding out. The league source tells McLane that Jackson’s best bet is to play out this year and then ask for a new contract before hitting the final season of his deal. I spoke with a former player a couple months ago who said the exact same thing.
Could he get hurt and have that derail everything? Sure, that’s always a risk. Does he deserve to be paid more? Of course he does. But, if the Eagles aren’t planning on tearing up his contract at this point, then holding out will do nothing other than cost him what little money he’s scheduled to make.
You might want to include all the difficulties in them even being able to do a deal with the CBA restrictions.
There’s also the whole ‘will they even play next year’ dynamic.
You know just to head off the whole “Eagles are cheap” crying. From their past history of resigning talented young players I’d think DeSean would have gotten a new deal if not for this CBA BS.
I agree with the “Les Paul” model…
With all the unkowns of not having a “CBA” in place, most teams and players are just in this
“wait to see what happens” period… It’s unfortuante and there will be some teams and players
who get re-signed or players who threaten to hold out..(49ers took care of MLB WIllis and another player a while back and of couse RB Johnson deal got reworked with the Titans) but the word on the street is that teams/owners are going to be very unlikely to extend anyone’s contract until a new CBA is in place which is why you have teams like teams like Patirots/Colts and players like Brady/Manning have not been extended yet. I really believe that there will be an owners lockout
for 2011 season and no football, unless the players give in quite a bit….
If I was Desean I would hold out. Kolb has one more season in the NFL, 2 1/2 games (in total) of game situation experience and the Eagles figured out a way to deliver him $12M. They would have to figure something or expect to not see me. DeSean doesn’t have to be T.O., but he can hold out and there are probably 29-31 other teams that would be more than willing to figure out a fair contract for “The Most Electrifying Athlete in ALL of Football.” This is absurd considering by how much he’s already outperformed his existing contract. I’m sure Roseman could get a whole skid of late round draft picks for the guy. lol.
I think D-Jax will eventually be dealt to the Oakland Raiders (back home for him) after this season and will be paired up with QB J Campbell and play for Al Davis who loves that speed,deep ball and will pay out the $$$ for him. The Eagles probably get one of their Safeties (M Huff or T Branch) and then a couple of Draft Picks (a 2nd Rd and a 4th Rd) in return…
Mr. Mancini, you blaspheme sir. The Eagles would be foolish to ever let this player go.
I am not saying this is what I would do, I would keep him and get the ball to him 10-15 times a game until he couldn’t run anymore…But I do think that this is what the Eagles FO will do after the 2010
Season as they prepare for player lockout for 2011 season and rebuild the Team for 2012 season and beyond, I don’t think he will be in their plans and don’t expect Eagles signing any big contracts/bonuse/long term deals until the CBA gets resolved which may not be be for awhile
The Eagles can survive as long as the front office stay together and keep that salary cap in place…My suggestion would be for them to let Jackson go before he becomes a problem while he have value and just trade him to the Redskins for a future first rounder. A matter of fact the G-men need a reciever..we have much talent… a wealth of talent at receiver….trade him within the division and see if we can pick up some corner help to cover him. Sounds good ro me.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the Eagles were working on a deal as we speak. If one thing has been more telling than the double talk from the FO it’s the fact that whenever the team has no intention keeping a player around they jerk them around in contract negotiations. Players they plan on keeping they resolve any contract disputes quickly as to avoid long term animosity.
If not for the CBA they would have definitely already done a deal with Jackson. They know he’s an impact player and you just don’t let impact players go (until they reach 30 yrs old and don’t have as much impact left in them).
cooler heads prevail… let’s just hope he can stay grounded and not turn into head case