At the beginning of training camp, DeSean Jackson wouldn’t talk to the media because he was getting so many questions about his desire for a new contract. He refused to talk about it because he knew it would create controversy.
His attitude has changed with talk swirling about Michael Vick signing a huge contract in the near future. This has allowed Jackson to loosen up over time since he’s not the only Eagles player being talked about regarding a big future contract.
Jackson is making about $800,000 this year which is only a fraction of what other receivers on his level are being paid. Vick’s exploits are now putting him in a similar position where he’s going to be due a big payday.
Now Jackson has no problem being open about he and his quarterback’s desire to sign big contracts. It’s obvious that talk of new contracts has surfaced during their time together off the field.
“Yeah, man, we’re looking for those new contracts!” Jackson said. “We know the contracts will come. We’re just so focused on playing right now. The better we do, the better it is for both of us . . . we know what we have in front of us.”
Vick has repeatedly said that this isn’t the time for contract talk. The QB has said that time will come but Jackson didn’t have any problem talking about the fact that he and Vick are using their desire to sign huge contracts as motivation to excel on the field.
“We’re both two people on a mission, to go out there and just play our games at a very high level. The opportunities we have together, with him being the quarterback he is and me being the big-play receiver I am, it really don’t get no better than that,” Jackson said this week. “We just go out there looking forward to having a lot of fun and lighting up a lot of big plays.”
On the first play in the Redskins game, the entire nation got the chance to see Vick’s arm strength and Jackson’s speed. The quarterback threw the ball out there about 65 or 70 yards and the speedy receiver went and got it.
Jackson expressed his happiness in having a quarterback like Vick who has a bazooka arm to force him to use all his speed to run down his throws.
“Honestly, man, in my career, there haven’t been too many quarterbacks able to get the ball to me without me having to slow down to wait for the ball. He’s one of the few quarterbacks that’s able to put it out there and let me run to go get it,” said Jackson.
When Vick throws the ball out there Jackson is not only running to get the football, he’s also running to get that big payday.
At the beginning of training camp, DeSean Jackson wouldn’t talk to the media because he was getting so many questions about his desire for a new contract. He refused to talk about it because he knew it would create controversy.
If the Eagles do not give #10 a new contract they are playing with fire…you can believe this, if the Eagles front office tries to stiff #10 or keeps putting him off someone else will step up and glady pay #10 handsomely for his services. I cannot believe they havent tried to at least give #10 some indication they will take care of him.
Sunday Morning QB: Eagles were ready and willing to trade Michael Vick instead of Donovan McNabb
GARY MYERS
Saturday, November 20th 2010, 7:24 PM
Benc/Getty
Michael Vick has risen as an Eagle, and meets Giants Sunday night in Philadelphia.
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The Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins in April. Kevin Kolb was named the starter, received a new contract in May and then was injured in September. And now Michael Vick is a superstar again in November.
One phone call could have changed the whole series of events.
Philly coach Andy Reid was ready to trade Vick in the offseason, and obviously would have held onto McNabb, if a team had stepped up and made a serious offer. A well-placed source told the Daily News that Reid was willing and prepared to trade Vick if he felt he was receiving fair compensation and the team was right for Vick.
It never happened. Good thing.
When the Redskins offered a second-round pick in the 2009 draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2010 for McNabb, he became the one to go.
Reid had a lot invested in Vick in addition to the $1.2 million the Eagles paid him last year for being a very part-time Wildcat quarterback. The Eagles signed Vick shortly after he had served 18 months in a federal penitentiary in Kansas for illegal dogfighting.
His crime was horrific and became a very emotional issue. The Eagles were the only team willing to take him on, knowing how much criticism they were going to face. Sources say the Patriots, Rams and Bills discussed signing Vick last year, but ultimately elected not to pursue him.
The Eagles also invested a year on the field with Vick as Reid transitioned him back into life in the NFL after he was forced to sit out the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Still, going through another season with McNabb, Kolb and Vick was not going to work.
The contracts of all three were due to expire after this season. If Reid could get a quality draft pick for Vick after not giving up anything to sign him, that’s what he was going to do.
The Redskins, as it appears right now, traded for the wrong quarterback.
McNabb is having his worst season since becoming a full-time starter. He received a new long-term contract last week. The timing was odd. Even though negotiations had been going on since early October, the deal was announced hours before Vick and the Eagles humiliated McNabb and the Redskins 49-28 last Monday night; and, it was two weeks after Mike Shanahan embarrassed McNabb by benching him for Rex Grossman with 1:50 to play and the ‘Skins down by six points in Detroit.
McNabb’s contract was reported as a five-year, $78 million deal that includes $40 million guaranteed. In reality, McNabb gets an additional $3.5 million this year and the Redskins could cut their losses with no further payments if they release him after this season. If they keep him, big money kicks in. Reid gave Kolb a one-year, $12.5 million extension in May.
Dear Mr. Banner.
You did the right thing in trying to resign Dawkins. Denver just made a ridiculous offer.
You did the right thing and took care of Westbrook. Ditto A. Samuels, Peters, and McGiggles etc.
Don’t play chicken with these two. Andy Reid teams usually play there best football at the end of the year. So the chances are, that Jackon and Vick are only going to get better and demand more money. Jackson has been weak again physical divisional cornerbacks. Disappeared in the Dallas games. I know the cheapskate in you wants to play it safe, but go ahead and take a chance and sign them now. The philly fans are packing the stadium and buying all the philly gear we can. We’ll pay for it. The ratings are going to be sky high as long as Vick keeps playing. Go Spike Lee on us and “Do the right thing.”
I think the Eagles should give Jackson an in season bonus NOW
They way he puts his undersized body on the line can’t be good for his future and he has given the Eagles a great season last year and so far this year
In response to my own post
Are in season bonuses OK if they don’t violate the salary cap–I would think so
BSM,classic and to the point. Let me add to your thought brother. Everyone knows on here that I am lets say over positive at times so that will make my point more strong. If the Eagles let either one or both these players leave over the next years or even further (Pending level of play), I will be done with the Eagles for a few years, becasue that will signal in my mind that the organization doesn’t give a $%#$5 about us or winning. Things are happening to this team, don’t screw with the strengths Banner,
Lurie.
This team can win now, win later, win some more. Now that said I am more than confient that the Eagles will make the proper football and business move and lock these guys in, as long as the players don’t go ape shit on their demands, becasue it is important that we have enough funds to keep Maclin, McCoy, Samuels, patterson…..you get my point fellas. keep the faith brothers Lurie don’t become a millionaire by being stupid, cheap, or slow to capture an opportuinty.
We don’t just need Vick, and Jackson, we need this teams chemisrty and youth to grow together. We have been winning steady for the last 10 years, I am spoiled. We can’t demand a superbowl, but we have a right to demand winning seasons, and I am proclaiming my rights to that claim right now.
FO- make us Eagle Nation fans, winning fans for the next five years then reload.
As always LONG LIVE THE EAGLES
Rcp – the 30% rule specifically blocks them from giving him a big deal because he is not in the final year of his contract. They can up it by 30% but that’s it. And that would screw up getting a max deal later on.
Paulman’s NFL picks for Week #11 (Overall Season Record of 79-52)
Bears over Dolphins (was an easy one with Dolphins down to 3rd String QB and injured LT J Long)
Bills over the Bengals (Buffalo plays hard all 60 minutes which cannot be said of the Benglas)
Cowboys over the Lions (Look for Kinta and the Rushing game (F Jones/T Choice) have big games
Titans over Redskins (Moss makes an impact against hurting Redskins, McNabb another poor game)
Chiefs over Cardinals (Chiefs smarting after a quick start and get back to rushing the ball)
Packers over Vikings (Matthews Jr all over Farve today and Rogers chews up Viking Secondary)
Steelers over Raiders (in a close,low scoring slug-fest, Steelers pull it out at the end)
Jets over Texans (Jets finally put it together offensively from the start and win big going away.)
Ravens over Panthers (Ravens play for a shutout versus the worst Offense in the NFL)
Browns over JAgs (Browns are playing hard for Coach Mangini and pound the Jags with RB Hillis)
49ers over TB Bucs – (49ers make 2nd half surge with rising QB T Smith and get a big win)
NO Saints over Seahawks (Saints flying under the radar and ready to start the 2nd half in style)
Rams over the Falcons (Rams have played hard and well at home, Falcons so-so on the road)
Pats over the Colts (Pats win big as Manning struggles,injuries start catching up to the Colts)
Chargers over the Broncos (High scoring affair in which Rivers out-duels Orton for the Win)
Eagles 31- Giants 16 (Eagles get off to a good start and get to Eli causing some early turnovers
in which Eagles take advantage of, GIants with make-shift O/Line and WR S Smith have a hard time sustaining drivers angainst the Eagles D)
Enjoy the games
I’m fairly certain that bonuses do not apply to the 30% rule. The 30% rule applies to salary only.
That’s why Patrick Willis was able to receive such a huge signing bonus.
30 percent rule still looms over uncapped year
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 21, 2010, 5:50 PM EST
With the salary cap disappearing in 2010, plenty of players still under contract might be looking for new deals.
If, after all, there’s no spending limit and fewer free agents are available and guys are operating under deals done when a cap was in place, some of them might expect a big raise.
But there’s a problem, as one league source pointed out in response to our recent suggestion that the decision of Steve Smith (the young, good one) to change agents could be a sign that he wants to strike it rich.
The 30 percent rule applies to the renegotiation of any contracts.
It means that the player’s salary in 2010 can’t be more than 30 percent greater than the player’s salary in 2009. For players still operating under the minimum base salaries of a slotted rookie deal, that’s a problem. A big problem.
But there’s a loophole. NFL director of corporate communications Dan Masonson has confirmed for us that signing bonuses won’t count toward the 30 percent rule. Still, it means that the bulk of a player’s compensation would have to be funneled to him via a signing bonus, with limited base salaries in future years. While the player might be fine with that in 2010, the player might feel a lot differently in the out years of the deal.
Then there’s the looming lockout. Why would a team want to front load a deal with a huge signing bonus in 2010 if there might be no football in 2011? Every player who receives such a deal is one less player who will have to face the prospect of living game check to game check with no game check.
So keep an eye on this angle as the uncapped year begins. Plenty of players under contract will want more money. It’s unlikely that many will get it.
I actually kinda hope they can both be kept around under contract terms that keep them hungry and trying hard to prove their worth. Players play better when they are working to score a big contract. The money spent means nothing to me, nor should it for any fan, you are not going to be getting any of it.
Remember T.O.
Let’s finish the Season first,
then worry about the Contract Status of VIck,D-Jax, E Sims, or anyone else on the team..
I remeber a receiver who is a total looney tune headcase who has caused issues every single place he has played. Had the Eagles made him the highest paid player in the league, he would have found something else to explode about. He is mentally ill, and a loser who may make the Hall of Fame but will never, ever win a 2nd playoff game, let alone a championship.