The relationship between Eagles coach Andy Reid and wide receiver DeSean Jackson has be quite a topic and rightfully so.
After Sunday’s disappointing loss in Chicago, Reid scolded his troops for their lackluster performance. Reportedly, Jackson was singled out for his efforts.
Both parties have shown a unified front when questioned about what transpired after the Bears game. I have no problem with that. I believe such situations should be kept in house.
I also have no problem with Jackson being unsatisfied with his contract. He has certainly proven that he is worth more than the 2nd round scale he is currently under.
What I do have a problem with is his recent productivity. I’m not taking anything away from the Bears or NY Giants defense, but DeSean has to overcome these obstacles.
Part of being a No. 1 receiver is the ability to make catches over the middle and possibly absorbing some hits in the process.
Yes, DeSean Jackson has a ton of heart. But, how much can heart make up for 5’10”, 175 lbs? Can heart overcome the understandable concern two concussions in as many years have generated?
The bottom line is: How much is DeSean Jackson truly worth? I think that question is as tough to figure out as predicting the actual outcome of the NFL’s current labor negotiations.
Jackson’s big play ability and swagger give him the star power of a Larry Fitzgerald or a Terrell Owens. He’s not worth Fitzgerald money, though. Not by a long shot.
DeSean also is much better than Todd Pinkston, whom Jackson has been compared to after a couple “alligator arm” plays.
Once a new CBA is established, would Jackson accept an extension in the range of 4-5 years, $25-30 million? Does he think he’s worth more than that? Does Eagles Vice President Joe Banner think that’s his market value?
While the debate of DeSean Jackson continues, there’s a pending free agent wide receiver with the same last name who deserves some attention this coming offseason.
That would be Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers. Like DeSean, Vincent has the ability to stretch the field vertically (both have career averages of over 17 yards per catch).
While DeSean may have accumulated more 40+ yard receptions in a shorter time span, Vincent’s size (6’5”, 230lbs) gives him a better opportunity to come down with jump balls.
Many will question why the Chargers would allow Vincent Jackson to reach free agency. It’s very simple. San Diego GM A.J. Smith does not give in easily to player’s contract demands (see: Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawn Merriman, etc.) He has not problem moving on to someone else.
Vincent Jackson was willing to hold out the entire 2010 season rather than sign a restricted tender. Someone wisely advised him to sign it in order to qualify for unrestricted free agency.
I don’t see the Chargers using a franchise tag on V. Jackson because they’ve been able to operate a top ranked offense without him. The thoughts of a long term deal San Diego seem to be damaged beyond repair.
That said, he would be a great fit for the Eagles offense. Put the excitement factor DeSean brings to the side for a moment. Imagine the ability to throw across the middle to the top receiver without worrying about his frame’s ability to sustain a vicious hit.
The most notable negative on Vincent Jackson is his January 2009 DUI arrest. No arrest is good, but in the middle of a playoff run the timing couldn’t have been worse. Still, it’s not a blemish that should completely remove any consideration.
Could this forecast be a factor in how the Eagles view DeSean Jackson’s future here?
Which guy would you prefer?
If it was possible to trade Desean for Vincent, I would do it in a heartbeat.
If putting the excitement aside, I’d go with V Jackson. I just think a receiver like him would be much more consistent and can hurt you in so many different ways. Put him on the field with Maclin, that’s a handful to defend not to mention Avant and McCoy in the passing game. I’m a Desean guy but if I’m thinking rational, I would have to go with Vincent Jackson just because I think he can give you something more consistent over a longer period of time. The deep play is exciting when it happens. But I much rather have a guy who has the ability to catch 6-10 every game and not be taken out easily by a deep safety. It’s a very close call but emotions aside without the excitement or off field stuff and just a football impact, V Jackson, by a very very slim margin.
Scorp, we have Maclin that can do the deep route just as good as Desean — now like you said, Desean is a VERY exciting player, but Maclin can do his job. No one on our team can do what Vincent Jackson does. This guy will overpower you. He can leap over two/three defenders and make the grab. The guy is just a straight up beast.
I love Desean, but if giving up on him for someone like Vincent Jackson is needed, then so be it.
Man get the fuck outta here! Desean has a couple of mediocre games, 1 bad game, and ya’ll are talking about trading the man? Wow. Desean Jackson is the truth! I’d take DJax over VJax anyday of the week. While Vincent is able to cut across the middle, he is not the fastest, most explosive player in the league like Desean is. Philly is so quick to hop on someone’s bandwagon and then jump off when the fuck up. Thats messed up. Desean Jackson is our deep threat, he is also lethal on WR reverses and screens. Maclin, Avant, and Cooper cut across the middle. We don’t need Desean to that when we have 3 other recievers that can. Its good that our WR core is so versatile. Let Desean do what he does. If Vincent Jackson were here, there wouldnt be as much excitement. Desean Jackson is better than Vincent Jackson. Don’t hate. Real talk. Thats why all of these defenses are sending safeties 40 yards deep to cover 1 man! Thats unbelievable! But thats how scared they are of his big play abilities. Fuck a Vincent Jackson!
Brido, I agree. It’s not necessary to win in the NFL with a guy who is as fast as Desean. Sure its good to have and a nice luxury but definitely not something you can’t win without. I think V Jackson would being a lot more to the table in terms of a true #1 receiver who is a threat from anywhere on the field against any DB.
Why is this even a topic or discussion? We have gotten 3 great years out of Desean and he can only get better! Enjoy the ride and stop complaining! Shit!
Dizzy, no one is “jumping off a bandwagon”. The question was posed if you had to chose, which one would you prefer. And it was answered. And then you say if Vincent Jackson was here, there would be as much excitement….. I fully agree. But as the question was posed, put excitement to the side. Just talking about football and not the flash of catching a 60 yard bomb 4 or 5 times a season while get mediocre or worst stats for the rest of the year. I’m a Deseasn guy, but having a guy like that is not necessary to win in the NFL. Good to have, but you can do without it when you have a set of receivers who are able to get the job done as well.
DJAX, all day! A decision like this, you’d have to consider all the bs with VJAX and clearly his selfishness would have to be part of the decision…..VJAX hasn’t even played this season…no way would I take him over DJAX, DJAX fits this team..Maclin and Avant are the receivers on this team that can get 6 – 10 compeltions a game (possibly even Cooper, Celek too) I’m not buying that DJAX can’t be consistent and catch 6 – 10 completions a game either..DJAX value for the deep threat, keeps the defense honest…this being a big part of why he won’t catch mutliple balls…DJAX on reverses, kick returns…DJAX adds more to this team than VJAX…
Fact is DJAX is on our team and have made plenty of big plays for us, be faithful to what we have…sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side!
I feel you Diz!
You can clearly tell the posters on here who know football and are EAGLES fans not fans of PLAYERS on the Eagles.
The safeties that play 40 yards back….notice I said safetIES, aren’t just playing that far back because of Desean. They fear Maclin’s speed as well. Maclin is one of the fastest receivers in the NFL — I dare put him in the top ten. They are scared of BOTH players speed, not just Deseans.
i’d keep djax
but this a tough 1
in a perfect world maclin can go for v jax all day and i’d like to have v jax and djax together
id love that
Realtalk — grass is not always greener on the other side? Where have I heard that before? Oh yea, the McNabb trade. Hmmmm……
@Birdo
Desean is quicker than Maclin, FACT!….his deep threat presense puts more pressure on the defense than Maclin…Maclin is also used a bit differently than DJAX….DJAX is sent on deep patterns a litte more exclusively than Maclin…The fact that VJAX has showed how selfish he is, is a big part of why I wouldn’t want him on this team..if thats not being a fan of the Eagles I dont know what is!
@Birdo
you didnt hear me say a thing during the McNabb trade…fact is I wasn’t even on this site at the time..so try that bullshit with someone else!
@Real
Desean may just be the quickest and fastest player in the NFL — but Maclin is not that far behind. Maclin is faster than most receivers in the league…..of course…..when you have the fastest receiver in the NFL (possibly) on the other side of you, you don’t tend to get credit for your speed.
maclin is fast but he is no where near djax and maclin aint top 10 at all
@Real, the question was based PURELY on football between DJAX and VJAX — answer it accordingly.
@Birdo
noone is saying Maclin is not fast, I’m a huge fan of Maclin so again try that bullshit with someone else…VJAX for DJAX, obviously decreased the speed of the wide receivers. Safteties will not play as far back with that duo…
yo man its an opinion question wtf u can answer it any way u want
the quest is who would u rather have on the eagles
u can make arguments for both
y tf u always acting like u some1 special
u dont know anything any of us dont
@Birdo
Can you read? I responded with my very first post, DJAX vs VJAX…unfortunately we are communicating over the internet so I dont have pictures or flashcards to show you…
It seems like the main reason to choose Djax over v jackson is speed. I can understand that. It’s just my opinion that you do not need to have a receiver with blazing speed to be successful. Sure it’s good but I much value other things than strictly speed especially when you have Maclin on the field. It’s not like you’ll have Vincent Jackson, avant and freddie mitchell as your other 2 receivers. I think you’ll still have adequate speed to be explosive and dangerous. If I had to choose between djax and fitz, I’m going fitz. Fitz isn’t as fast but he’s a beast and I much take a guy with his skills over someone with only speed. But again, this is only if I had to choose. Not saying I prefer to get rid of Jackson. Just my thoughts.
V Jackson is no Fitz but he can bring some of the things to the table that Fitz can because he has adequate speed and his physical presence. Speed is great, and I love Djax but I’d take at least 10 WRs in the league over him because they are all around better WRs. Not as explosive but can’t easily be taken out of games with safety help either. Just my thoughts.
VJAX and Andre Johnson are VERY similar type players — do you mean to tell me y’all wouldn’t take Andre over DJAX?
Just to put it in perspective, and even though it should be taken with a grain of salt, its probably the most realistic evaluation of a players criteria that we have — Madden ratings.
DJax is rated at 99 speed and 98 accel — Maclin is rated at 95 speed and 97 accel — like I said, take it with a grain of salt, but Maclin is NOT that far behind and YES, of STARTING receivers in the NFL, Maclin is in the top ten fastest with DJAX clearly at the top.
I am happy with the wideouts we have now…there are other positions on this team that need to be addressed before I would even think to make a change at the wideout position…
If it ain’t broke dont fix it!
Guys, I don’t know how much clearer G. can be that he doesn’t want swearing in the comments. We appreciate that everyone wants to come on and debate, but the swearing has to stop. We deleted DizzyJ. 99% of you don’t have a problem adhering to this rule, but someone always has to go there.
Carry on.
Redzone offense stats says its broke.
@Micah, FINALLY — thank you for getting rid of that educated wannabe thug.
@Micah
post something worth reading! how bout that?
realtalk I agree that other areas need attention but it also doesn’t mean that if you have an opportunity to get better in one area you should ignore it. I’m happy with our WRs as well man. Especially with the slop we used to put out on the field. I just don’t want people to take a person’s preference of a 1 player over another as someone knocking one guy. It’s not. It’s just stating if a person had to choose. If I had to choose, I’d take Brady or Peyton Manning over Vick. That doesn’t mean I am knocking Vick. Sure we would lose some excitement with Vick but in the end I think the team would be better off with either of the aforementioned guys. Same thing in this case. But it’s only opinion. I don’t think anyone here is saying that Djax isn’t good or whatever. My main concern with him is his fragile body and how he is almost a non factor when he isn’t catching the ball deep. I would much rather have a guy who can hurt a team all over the field in any type of coverage. But that’s just me.
Scorp yea its close. V jax is very good n would give us an element we dont have. Clearly u cant go wrong with either 1. Im prob just biased cause djax been an eagle. Id take either 1 n a blink.
@scorp
Petyon Manning or Brady, behind our offensive line? yes they are great QB’s no doubt, but it would not be as sweet as some of you may think…
I have the same concerns about DJAX, but the Eagles do not have to use him in the manner that leaves him exposed. Thats why, we have Maclin, Avant, even Celek (when we start using him more) I honestly dont think we’d be making an upgrade by replacing VJAX with DJAX…
For what the Eagles are doing, DJAX is the better fit…Lets not forget DJAX can do damage out of the backfield, quick slants, deep posts, kick returns…I dont know I think you guys are under valuing the little guy a little bit…
Who do you all think is the better WR on the Eagles right now? I used to lean Jackson, but think Maclin is the better WR now…and will continue to get better. I think they can both play the same role.
So, looking at it that way, and considering DJax may be #2 on the Eagles, I would probably trade him fo Vincent Jackson (if his head screwed on right)
The only other consideration of course is D Jackson’s return abilities which add an element V Jax doesn’t have.
\VJAX would be a free agent in 2011..if we could sign him and keep DJAX and Maclin, I’m with it….but DJAX or VJAX I’m against it!
real, I agree but I think that in the long run Brady and Manning would be better for any team than Vick. Not saying Vick couldn’t win anything. But if I had to choose they would be over him. You cannot choose your QB based on your oline personnel. You have to choose the best player because eventually those other areas would get better.
hater!
lol
out of the backfield? Yeah but we also don’t want him doing that too much because he can get hurt easily. Quick slants? Probably but then again another situation where he can get hurt easily because you can almost always expect contact on a quick slant. He doesn’t return kicks and only does punts part time now. As you see, he can be eliminated from the kicking game as well. And again you are taking it too personally. Just because someone prefers another player doesn’t mean anyone is undervaluing anyone. Just means you would pick someone else. No one is undervaluing him. We all know he can do a lot of things. No one said he couldn’t but at the same time there are guys that exist in the league who are better and would benefit teams more than him.
@Scorp
I dont disagree at all…But as far as my preference, I’d prefer a mobile QB, thats just me..
real, it would be hard to sign V jackson and keep desean because they both want money. Only way you get vincent here is by giving him a lot of money. And the Eagles are not going to pay 2 WRs a boatload of money and Maclin makes some nice change too since he was a first rounder. I would love something like that, but that ain’t happening with this FO.
@Scorp
I’m not taking it personally at all…I think you are taking it personally, and dont like the fact that I have my opinion about the matter…pump ya bakes!
Scorp,
Based on what you say, we might as well put DJAX in a bubble…everyplay there is a chance of him getting hurt! In DJAX’s carrer he has taken quickslants to the house and picked up big first downs with his legs…
Real, I got. A mobile QB is good. Hey, I have no problem with Vick at all. I was just using it as an example that we do have some very good and exciting players that bring a lot to the table but there are other guys out there who could possibly bring more without the flash. Check out the Patriots. When they were a dynasty, they played great defense and was nothing special on offense. They become the most potent offense in the league ever with Moss, Welker, Stallworth and Brady and nothing. All that speed and nothing. They are now trying to get back to playing the way that got them to the top of the league. Just good WRs who are productive and do their job. When we were going to NFC championships we were a boring offense outside of Westbrook. Bunch of dinking and dunking down the field and playing great defense. I am just saying there some things more important than just excitement and speed.
Yeah sometimes I think he does need to be in a bubble LOL. No what I am saying is that those short routes and plays around the line of scrimmage put him at a higher risk of being hit my a larger defender. Not too many people want to see him getting hand-offs and then creamed by a 280 bounder DE. Look at his injuries where he tweaked his groin, ankle and concussions. All less than 20 yards off the line. He catches the ball and falls straight down when he sees someone. Not saying I blame him, but that’s the truth. Most of the routes he runs is on the outside or deep posts because that is where is is most effective and less likely to be in a position to get hurt. We won’t see him catch to many drag routes or curl routes. It’s just not his game.
No I like the fact that you have your opinion and I am just sharing my views with you just like you shared yours. So it’s ok for you to post things to argue others opinion but not ok for other to do the same for you? I see. I’m not trying to change your mind because that’s not happening. Just trying to get you see where I’m coming from. I see where you guys come from… speed and excitement.
amen to that.
Think back in history and its difficult to find very many big strike offences that ever won a championship
From the Fouts Chargers, to the Culpepper-Cunningham Vikes,(now there was a deep strike O with Moss, Carter and R Smith at RB), to the Moss Pats, to the 80s Bills…
The deep strike offences are fun to watch, but they seem to have serious limitations when it comes to big games when the Ds get amped up.
Vincent Jackson any day. If you look at the top receivers in the league in recent times (Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens) they all have a physical appearance to them that they are bigger than everyone else and outjump the 5 foot 10 corners. Desean has the speed but thats only temporary and he will only get slower with age and injuries. Height and power is forever.
@Scorp
I totally see where you are coming from…VJAX does things that DJAX doesnt…but its the same way on the other end too..Trust me, I agree with most things you say, and even when I dont I always know where you are coming from..you know the game of football, I’ll never call you on that..I’m just saying I wouldn’t take VJAX because he seems very selfish..Not signing a contract until November? Regardless of the situation you still have to be there for your teammates, I dont think he is a good teammate…I dont know the man personally but from the outside looking in I just can’t respect that…
I agree that speed isn’t always everything, but that not all I am basing my decision on..also I would have to concur with phillywill, I am a little biased because DJAX is an Eagle. I have great respect for DJAX because of his size and the things he does on the field…but when I may go back and forth at time, that does not mean I’m taking it personally, like you I’m just trying to have you understand where I am coming from…Peace and Respect!
I’d take Vincent Jackson because we need his size and some of the other things he brings to the table. I love D-Jax but not as a number one receiver because he can be shut down. One major concern about Vincent Jackson is that one more strike and V-Jax is out for a year!
fellas, almost 24 hours til the game! We gonna bounce back hard!
Lets Go!