It’s week 7 of the NFL season and DeSean Jackson still hasn’t been given a contract extension. Some of you might be thinking he doesn’t deserve it with his inconsistent play so far this season. I, on the other hand, am seeing it 
from a different perspective. In my opinion the man isn’t playing with his usual heart and explosiveness because he knows how drastically underpaid he is.
DeSean is saying the things he needs to say in order to stay out of trouble with the team and not turn this into the T.O. 2005 circus all over again. But folks let’s face it no matter what company you work for if you’re underpaid and you know it, it’s going to bother you.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Jackson is a top five receiver in this league. His stats speak for itself. He’s broken 1000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons and came really close to doing it in his rookie campaign. It’s no coincidence that all of a sudden this season he’s not racking up the yards he usually does. The guy is risking his career every play he’s out there. Didn’t the Eagles learn from the T.O debacle? Sometimes you need to just swallow your pride and pay special talent when you have it available to you. DeSean is one of those special talents and it’s frustrating to watch him go out every week and not play up to his potential because the contract situation is on his mind.
Let’s pretend we’re in an Eagles world without DeSean. If I’m a defense that’s one less weapon I need to focus on. 
No longer do I need to worry about DeSean stretching the field on me. I can solely focus on Maclin and McCoy and let’s face it Maclin is a good receiver but his speed doesn’t match DeSean. As a defense with DeSean on the field, I need to have a corner playing man on him and a safety playing deep at all times otherwise I’m getting burnt by his speed.
DeSean’s presence on the field alone opens up opportunities for other guys in the offense. Maclin, Avant, Celek all have opportunities because the defense knows they need to keep at-least two guys watching DeSean at all times. Even when Mike Vick has a long run it means the defense was down field watching DeSean so the holes were open to go for a run.
DeSean is a game changer and let’s face it these types of players don’t come along often. In his young career he’s already had an impact on some huge games such as the games at Dallas and NY just a season ago. His punt return against the Giants last season signifies the reason you need to pay this guy and keep him on your side. At any moment of a game he can change the outcome. Superbowl winning teams have guys like this on their team and if the Eagles want to progress towards that goal you need to keep him happy. I personally believe the play of DeSean would be a lot better this year if he had the peace of mind knowing he’s collected a big contract and isn’t risking his career at every snap.
I think signs point to DeSean taking his act elsewhere if something doesn’t change. Is it me or does Jeremy Maclin seem to be getting a lot more throws to him this season? Is it a coincidence that all of a sudden when DeSean is asking for a pay day you don’t look his way as much? The Eagles the past few seasons have always taken shots down field with DeSean and that doesn’t seem to be happening this season.
I think it’s a combination of him not going all out the way he usually does and the fact the Eagles may not want to give him a chance to prove them wrong about his value. If you want to win football games you might want to take that chance and start getting him the ball more. Let’s stop the games already and pay DeSean because if not he’ll come back to haunt you some day.
Some good points in the article. IMO I don’t believe he’s a top 5 WR. He vanishes in too many games. The Eagles do need to pay him. I’m sure a team like Washington or Dallas would have no problem paying him what he wants. If the Eagles let this guy go their going to have major passing problems. Even more problems if he is in the same division as us. Wonder what I would be like to be on the opposite end of a DJax TD??? It’s only what week 7? So, there is still plenty of time to get him an extension. Just think of all the money that will be going to him this year and McCoy next year!! Maybe the Eagles are waiting till the off season so the can tag him.
If we pay Desean what he wants, how are we going to pay Maclin and McCoy next year? Let him walk.
“It’ll come back to haunt you one day” — how many times have we heard this over the last decade??
Make him a fair offer, but not crazy $$$..
The Offense is not the Problem with this team and D-Jax is too up and down and disapears versus top Defenses and in the Red-Zone.. Eagles are better off using those resources for some LB and DT help..
After he torches Dallas’s weak secondary they ink him to a new deal. Dude makes a good point,the o doesnkt function the same w/o him blowing the roof off of coverages. So bird…why would you let him walk? It would bring the o down a notch based on the fact teams would no longer have to double a reciever on out o.Dude has made some great in traffic catchs this year,dropped a few,but i dont remember him giving the game away like the other two recievers this year.
He’s not top 5 recievers in my opinion…A.J.,C.J.,Fitz,Jennings,White…but he is w/o a doubt Top 3 playmakers in the NFL. Without a doubt.Letting him wal would significantly reduce the explosiveness of this team.And 3 years from now they’ll still be looking for a speed guy like him.While he’s in another town lighting d’s up.
And give it a rest with his flashiness,brash,and swagger.Its his thing and you werent crying that when he knifed NY’s throat last year.
Paul…he didnt disapear gainst the Skins.Top d. He’s not a red-zone reciever.Thats Macs job.
I’m down to pay Desean. But i’m not down to pay him to the point where it will hinder the ability to sign OTHER guys like McCoy AND Maclin.
If we pay Desean “top playmaker” money, how in the world are we going to afford the guy that is the REAL most important weapon to the offense, Shady McCoy?
We can live without Desean, we will not survive without McCoy.
By trading Asante and freeing up that money. They’ll make it work.
Dallas looked just ok yesterday. Romo did not impress. Nmandi gets his first big pick in fornt of the faithful.
Who else has heard that clown Cataldi on the radio rootin gainst the Birds to get Reid outta here. He’s a moron.G was on a lil while ago and didnt buy into it. I guess we should give up and admit we dont have a chance of winning this division and getting into the dance?Loser talk. And thats real talk. The Skins just lost to Carolina? Giants….come on.
GO BIRDS.
When/If Asante gets traded, the Birds are going to have 41 players on the roster with around 27 mil in cap room.
That’s not counting the pricey extensions that both Maclin and McCoy are going to receive. The Birds will most certainly extend BOTH of them this offseason if not before — so I’m looking at Maclin for around 5-6 mil a year and McCoy for around 8-9 mil a year. At BEST, that would leave 14 mil to be dispersed to 11 free agents/draft picks.
It’s time to face the facts. If Desean was going to be a vital part of the Eagles plans moving forward, he would have been signed already.
desean=touchdowns, pay the man
I think that you are right Birdo, though I will be sad to see him go.
BTW- how many possible articles can we have on this subject. Find a new topic?
Nothing will happen to D-Jax until after the Season and if/when the Eagles miss the Playoffs, they will have many other worries,concerns about how much $$$ they will pay for their top players who fit into their long-range players.. I don’t believe D-Jax fits into their long range Goals or as Birdo correctly indicated, they would have taken care of it already.. With Agent Drew Rosenhaus, as a big part of the process, D-JAx is not going to settle for any smaller, home team discount. They will be asking for S Holmes/S Rice kind of $$$ and it’s not going to happen with the Eagles who have too many other glaring issues to take care of and other young players who do fit into their long range plans more so than D-Jax as in Maclin/McCoy/DCR perhaps.. Maybe they will place a “Franchise Tag” due to saving face with the Fans but when are you about capped out salary wise, and your team fails to make the Playoffs and have one the Highest Paid Coaching Staffs in the entire NFL, there are many other issues that come to the forefront then D-Jax Contract Status…
Where was Holmes in that jets game yesterday? Ok. Desean is easily worth 5-7 mill a year.You kidding me?Sid Rice…come on. Nice reciever but hes not Desean.
So a player whos played solid football this year. And has started since his rook year you just let go? Thats moronic.Maclin is nice…solid allaround reciever.But he’s benefits from Desean. The whole offense does. Come on…know your x’s and o’s.Ask Vick if his o looks the same w/o #10.
Erock lol good points…Don’t listen to some of the people on here…I swear there is some nonEagles fans on here…they don’t even live here and have said they don’t watch the games. D-Jax will get an offer the Eagles want to give him and if he doesn’t take it they will use the franchise tage on him in a heart beat…I dont get why that is so hard for people to understand? You really think Eagles FO is going to save the millions for a coaching staff? lol what a joke>>>do you guys know how much money D-jAX makes the FO…he is easily a top 10 player in the league when it comes to popularity.
Birdo I think once the Eagles cut a lot of the useless and overpaid players on the league there will be plenty of cap to work out deals for everyone. After the season, I see them getting rid of Samuel, Patterson, Justice, Parker, Tapp(or will prolly take a pay cut), JJ, and Vince Young. That alone will give the Eagles over 30 million in cap room…There will be plenty of space to get people signed including draft picks which don’t make anything compared to what they did.
If the Eagles trade DJax while he is under a franchise tag I wouldn’t mind unless its for the right price. But if you get rid of him this offense will suffer big time in my mind…MAclin wont be Maclin with all the double teams, Mccoy wont be Mcoy without the opposing secondary lining up 30 yards from scrimmage, and Vick wont be Vick since the big play is what he lives off of. But there is no way in hell they just let DJax walk free..Your are completely retarded to believe anything like that.
O and the argument that their not extending D-Jax cause if they wanted to they would of done it by now is just as stupid as people thinking the Eagles would actually just let a value like DJax walk free without anything in return. Why did they need to extend him? The Eagles had and still have all the power with this guy..he was still on his rookie deal…why did they have to pay him? People didn’t even know there was going to be football this year…its a business they didnt give him the contract yet because they didn’t have to plain and simple.
pay ther man and lets move on. I dont understand fans that want to freak about this. If we have cap problems in 3 years just cut him. who cares?? he opens things up and thats what we need for this o. Should they be trying to find a tall, fast, powerful reciver to replace him in 3 years??? sure… but he’s not on our team yet. Pay and move on,.
btw- the eagles are the best in the buiz as far as making contracts work. Im not worried about how they will pay the other guys in a year.
Does anyone remember the name of the last player the Eagles let hit the market before re-signing?
Forget the franchise tag — no way they use it on a wide receiver.
G I agree. Pay Jackson today. I’m concerned about his play this year, however, I feel once he gets his contract he will play better. We shouldn’t drag this out because he hurts the team in the long run. Joe Banner lets get it done before the Dallas Game!!!!!!!
birdo- i understand where you are coming from but there is no way they just let this guy leave. They may tag and trade him but they let talent leave ONLY after they have squeezed all the talent out. i would agree with you if this was coming up on his 3rd contract. 1 think i am keeping in mind……
the eagles have said hey wanted to be apart of this ’11 free agent blitz as early as 2008. They wanted as much money as possible to make this happen. They were not going to lock him up and take away some of that cash.
im not sure a deal gets done any time soon…or at all. But there is NO way Jackson just walks out the door.
Why pay 10-12 Players on a 6-10 or 7-9 or an 8-8 Team that misses the Playoffs Millions of DOllars only to underperform as a team.
I think the Eagles will have now “Cold Feet” due to the deal they signed VIck to (as they should).. If Eagles aren’t making the playoffs, why throw $$ around … I think it’s time for a “Down Period in Eagle History”, they have been on a roll for a while and it’s time for them to struggle again.. (this is good every 10-15 years for it cleans out the non-committed fans)
There’s no way D-Jax stays.. He’s a good player, but shouldn’t even be on the field once inside the 25 Yard line and he is a wussy now to return Punts anymore since he doesn’t want to get hurt… Let him Walk and draft one the 20 good WR’s that are availalbe in this Years Draft for chump change compared to what D-Jax/Rosenstain will demand…
I think the Eagles go back to basics next season and get rid of or releaselk A Samuel,T Laws, D Jackson, S Smith, R Brown, V Young, J Jackson, O Scmitt, J Parker…. Out with the old, in with the new… I think they will change their colors and uniform design and heck, maybe Lurie will even sell the Franchise to a LA Investment Group with the NFL would love to have a team back out in LA again..
pman- you are a tool- please just leave….. they are not on a down period.
ill buy that they are out coached…
ill buy that they are weak in some spots….
ill buy that their playcalling is stupid….
but this team is LOADED with talent and they can and will turn this around.
Im not saying this year…. but to suggest that they just fold up shop for a year is dumb…. even for you. The 2nd half of what you said was for pure laughs but not the first part. You mean the first part.
I agree that the eagles will let walk nearly every one of the names you said but thats not a stretch. Those guys have done nothing.
that’s probably just wishful thinking paulman, but I agree with your wishes, go back to basic, hard nosed football built on tough defense, get rid of the divas, the wusses like Jackson, Samuel, bring back the Kelly green, and clear out all these metrosexual eagles fans
I like our D line- should they draft a DT this year? sure… maybe. but i like what we are doing.
I like our Cb’s- im chalking the early struggles up to new system and such. Asam leaves next year. I pray we get a LB out of him.
Im fine with the safties. They are young but i think they can learn. Bring in a vet at this spot though. Challenge in camp.
Clearly the LB’s suck. and im not sold on the DC either.
I wouldnt mess with the O too much. we need 1 or 2 more starters on this Line. Thats about it.
Paul – WHAT? So first you are declaring that you know what record the team will have (your usual, but STUPID/INVALID) and then you’re curious why they pay players a lot of money if their (supposedly) not going to succeed anyway? That’s so ass-backwards. You need to have players on your team. And you have to arrange contracts up-front. You can’t say…enh sign here, we’ll pay you what you’ve earned after the season based on your play. And you can’t say ‘well, we’re really not going to succeed this year, so let’s just keep the money and put out shitty players’…..
So what don’t you get? How contracts in the NFL work?
And your doomsday predictions are silly now. Have you seen your generatologist lately? Are you listening to Glen Beck a lot these days!?
Jake, I like the kelly green idea, and I have again lost respect for Asante… those comments show plain and clear what a diva/little girl ego/ wuss he truly is. But I’ll take his interceptions for the rest of the season.
schill- i love how the national media is all over this guy this year. Asam has been talking since the day he got here. NO-ONE listens to him. Just shut up assanti and tackle something.
Jake, im with you on the hardnosed stuff… but if you want a power running team and shut outs you will prolly have to look to high school football. Jackson opens everything up.
What ever happened to Glenn Beck.. I can’t stand that guy…
Anyways, Gloom and Doom is my prediction for the EAgles and their faithful for the next few years.. It was bound to hapen and the laws of averages do even out after a while.. I think it’s good for the younger,spoiled fanes to sgo through a few lean Seasons… It helps build character and you weill appreciate the better teams/seasons that much more so… I am sure when Lurie & Banner announce an unprecedented “Lifetime Contract” for Coach AR, that things will get a little rough for Eagle Fans, we’ll just have to see how it goes…
Jakey chu – with the metro sexual comment – cause he is sucha big burly manly man fan! I just have this great image of lil jakey looking like a shivering little rat dog with a high pitched yap (then he goes on with the upside down bar stool story) with the pit bulls and great danes lloking at him like a itty bitty snack………
I love mannly man talk – but Pman – come on – Djax is the wussy – I submit for your careful consideration that it is the oppositions special teams coordinators and punters that are in fact the ‘wussies’ that are afraid to kick the ball to Jackson – – and it would help if our defense actually made the opposition punt a few more times………
And ‘going back to basics’ I am sorry – I thought the basics (well the most basic) was at the end of the game have more points on the board then your opponents do – I find that comment particularly (have to watch my spelling – snookie might be watching) entertaining after last weeks game against Washington – when we 1) used a stout D to limit the skins O and 2) ran the heck out of the ball and the game got called sloppy etc.
basic hard nosed football – does any team advertise they are not a ‘tough hard nosed’ football team?
Yes, I will admit Jackson opens it up betweens the 20 Yard Lines and then what happens.. The Eagles still suck in the Red-Zone any way you look at it..
What good does D-JAx do down on the most crtical part of the field, that’s right, very little if you haven’t notice…
stevo – yeah, Asante has the emotional maturity of a four year old. You’re right, he’s always been talking, just now a hot media topic. Oh how i hate the sports media.
Paul – ok, but your point is based on a hunch. so it’s worthless.
same old same old around here. Paul trying to sound smarter than the av bear and everyone killinghim for it. Best comment so far has been the call for Kelly Greens. Its dallas week…. lets get this thing rolling. I say the eagles win by 10.
i have no problem about what samuel said, in fact it was probably the most manly thing he has said, eagles trying to ship his ass out and you want him to just take it?, good for him, the problem is his play is about the most unmanly of any, and he’s not alone on this unmanly defense, so Paulman is correct, change things up, get rid of this soft, fat coach who lives to score only, clean house, jackson, samuel, smith, brown, celek, page,all gone mathews, chaney and rolle, on the bench, bring in new d coordinator, new head coach, new but old school philosophy, take a look at that pic of seth joyner, reggie, that’s the type of football players we want, not the divas
Jake, what’s your obsession with ‘manly’? And you don’t even make sense, ‘get rid of the diva’s’ and ‘I have no problem about what Samuel said’ – those are contradictory. So many people turn football conversations into discussions of generd and sexuality on here. It’s weird
I think I am just a little more irritable today than normal.. I hate the Bye Weeks and had to get my frustrations out on GCobb.Com.. There is still hope for this team, but it just pissed me off that it has to be so difficult.. Wth Good Coaching, this team should have been kicking ass from the get go.. No excuses, I am not buying one Iota of them…
Pman – highly recommend an increase in your dietary fiber intake and a whooping on the cowboys – you will feel much better after that!
Disagree Jakedog…if your an eagles fan how in he world could you accept what Samuel said…Whats ridiculous is that samuel said he is a business man first before anything else…he was a business man when the eagles signed him to one of the top CB contracts at the time right?…well guess what Assante the Eagles are a business as well and they have depth at your position that is a lot cheaper than what they pay you…So as a smart business decision they will try and trade you to improve another position that sucks…plain and simple…if this guy is all about business i don’t get why he is getting his feelings hurt. On top of that he hasn’t been taking care of his business on the field…give me a break trying to tackle people with his back to them cuz he is afraid to take a shot.
You got as many big plays this year(ints) as Jamar Chaney Assante Samuel get a grip…
Stop listening to Paulman man, that guy isnt even an Eagles fan. He wants the Eagles to go into mediocrity cuz he feels its just time for them to suck…what a joke of a fan…the Eagles have a shit load of young talent. Prolly the most they ever had.
“Wonder what It would be like to be on the opposite end of a DJax TD???
If its a game winning td that would be sickening (as in nausea and vomiting sick)
Can you imagine what this team would be if Vick wasn’t released and the corny ass ham ripper Kolb was our QB?
If there’s a silver lining in this dark cloud this season it’s Vick.
If he wasn’t on our team I wouldn’t even watch.
2-4…….pathetic
Definately not a top 5 receiver.Desean is only dangerous from 50 yards away.A top 5 receiver is dangerous from 50 yards away and also in the redzone.Maclin is a better all around receiver than desean.Once desean loses some of his speed he will de done.”In my opinion the man isn’t playing with his usual heart and explosiveness because he knows how drastically underpaid he is”.That quote doesn’t quite cut it for me as there are alot of players who are not making as much as players they are better than but that should not get you a free pass.
I think it’s time to blow this team up…
Trade Vick, Cole,Peters,Samuel, D-Jaxm Patterson,Celek while you can,,
It’s not like the Eagles have done a who lot with them anyways…
Eagles are like what 2-7 in their last 9 games with 5 losses in a row at teh Linc.. When was their last Playoff win.. 3 Years ago.. Everybody talks big shit about this Eagles Current group of Players and I haven’t seen big shit from them besides the stench the leave behind from their of lack of fundamentals in tackling, securing the ball and eliminating mind-numbing penalties…team is very undisciplined and remind of the Recent Cowboy Teams of having all this talent and sizzle, but at the end of the day and the end of the Season , it means Nada, Zilch, Zippo, Zero… ..
paulman you sir are off your rocker
What has this special talent done this year? He has been M I A most of the season, so far. He isn’t getting $#!t! He is a long threat, that’s it. He gives this absolutely zippo, when he goes M I A, & someone gets physical with him.
“Yes, I will admit Jackson opens it up betweens the 20 Yard Lines and then what happens.. The Eagles still suck in the Red-Zone any way you look at it..
What good does D-JAx do down on the most crtical part of the field, that’s right, very little if you haven’t notice…”
So what are you saying? He needs to do ALL the work? A team needs to have role players. Players that are red zone threats. Big TEs. RBs that can punch it in from the 5 in 3 carries. Tall WRs w range. etc etc. By your logic, DJax needs to be a superman, doing everything while the rest of the O watches. Anyone who cant see the value of a player that makes the pro bowl at two positions, is obviously one of the fastest players in the game and already has made several iconic plays in just a few years dosent know football. Defensive coordinators gameplanning for Vick AND DJax have thier hands full. Take one away and that job becomes MUCH easier. Anyone who wants to see DJax on antoher team, then have Maclin struggle…draped wih every teams #1 corner and coverage rolled at him, better wake up. You sound retarded.