DeSean Jackson showed up for this week’s OTA’s with a new contract and a new attitude to go with it. He’s put the 2011 season, the contract dispute, and the sulking behind him. Jackson wants to be a dependable team leader who is a consistent producer week in and week out for this franchise going forward.
“It’s just good to be able to focus on football a little bit more,” Jackson said. “The first day of OTAs being this week and practice … it’s a good feeling to be out here with the guys and just feels like a new energy.”
“The contract is good, but me being a leader has nothing to do with the contract,” Jackson said. “I just want to set an example out here for the guys. We’ve bonded as a team. I think everybody is really stepping up and being accountable for it.”
The speedy wide receiver knows that this explosive offense will need to lead the way by jumping on team at the start of games, and giving the Philadelphia defense a lead to work with.
“Being a leader honestly”, Jackson said. “Carrying the guys along with me. Stepping up and being accountable — that’s the biggest thing this team needs. Myself, Michael Vick, [Jeremy] Maclin, [LeSean] McCoy, [Brent] Celek, these guys, as far as the offense, it starts there. We have to go out there and help our defense out by keeping them off the field and scoring as many points as possible.”
The former Cal Bear star is talking about the Eagles avoiding turning the ball over and punching the ball into the end zone when they get in the red zone.
“As long as we’re able to lead, ‘Everybody watch us.’ It doesn’t have to be anybody screaming, yelling but as long as we’re out there showing the young guys doing what they need to do, they’ll follow.”
Yesterday, Jackson beat the drum for consistency.
“You can’t just have times of playing well and times of playing terrible,” he said. “We just have to try and figure out what we’re doing and stick with it. That’s our identity. We don’t want to be a team that’s known for its ups and downs. We want a team that’s known for being solid all around, and keeps getting better every day. As long as we keep coming out on this field every day and doing work, I think it’s going to show and rub off on Sundays.”
Theoretically speaking this should be the offenses greatest year thus far since T.O. was here.. Unless we cant fix the jason peters loss but i think we will be ok there… The defense might not be ready though .. next year will be better than this year ..
We will be just fine! Now let the trolls begin the hate!
relax harry potter
never thought of him as a potential leader, but I like what Im hearing…. We’ll see how well it translate, but a serious and focused Desean Jackson will be a huge advantage for us and a huge problem for the rest of the league
I do hope he keeps up this positive adtuide. He gives this team a certian adtuide that will really help. I hope a bad game dosent throw him off this
sounds to me like this man is not the”thug wannabe” guys like Pman make him out to be. Good for Djax.
We’ll see what happens. Dude showboats, sometimes almost costs plays by showboating, holds out, admits mistakes, then gets paid, then he TALKS like he’ll be a leader. I love him as a player but I really don’t see him ever being a leader.His behavior has never suggested leadership. I respect him for his foundation and the anti-bullying work he did. But leadership….I’ll believe it when he actually demonstrates it. It’s easy to talk about being a leadership when you have a fresh contact and it’s May…
Maybe D-Jax has grown up and matured which is great to see…Let’s see how he’s handles some adversity that’s bound to occur from time to time.. No one has ever doubted his God-Give Talent, If he stays focused and works hard on the areas that he needs to improve, than this is a great thing for him and the Eagles..
he doesnt even really have to be a leader on this team. All he has to do is focus on being prepared every week to stretch the field and make plays in the passing game. Cut out the dropped touchdown passes and the disappearing act he was soo good at last year.
Im happy for him though. He seems like he really wants to do the right thing, but it doesnt always work out that way
now he has a new season to look forward and these guys should be excited because the team looks very good right now.
stay focused Djax
Yup, just be a leader by example…Put work in, play hard on the field, help set the tone for the offense…I am amped about this upcoming season…Full camp, same core group of guys pretty much, some added talent at key positions! Lets Go! E-A-G-L-E-S!
A Leadership role is earned not taken…
His selfish, me first, I don’t want to hurt myself attitude will get little followers…
DJax: See Brian Dawkins for some leadership tips..