Philadelphia Eagles Start Life after Jackson Era

Nov 3, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles are facing something unfamiliar to them by learning how to adapt to life without DeSean Jackson. News broke via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning that former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who was released by the team four days earlier, had signed a three-year contract with the Washington Redskins. Jackson was given a deal worth $24 million, including $16 million guaranteed which is  not too shabby for a player whose former team was willing to let one of their biggest offensive weapons go for nothing. I could not have been less thrilled to read the report. I knew there could be a possibility of the Eagles having to face their former deep-threat twice a year, but I was hoping that would not come to fruition.

Former Eagles head coach Andy Reid, who is now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs looked like a viable option for Jackson to land, but Reid shot those notions down as quickly as they could get started. With a tremendous amount of cap space to spend, the Cleveland Browns could have afforded Jackson’s services. Talks between the two sides never surfaced even though the Browns were very interested in the wide receivers services. Jackson’s camp set up a meeting with the Redskins and owner Daniel Snyder proposed a deal that was just too good for Jackson and his representatives to turn down. Not much has surfaced from the Eagles brass about why the team decided to abruptly cut Jackson. Sources have confirmed that Jackson was not always prompt when arriving  for team meetings. Lets not forget how Jackson acted when he did not receive the coveted contract extension before the 2011 season that he so desperately wanted. That was season to forget. Jackson threw ill advised tantrums for the whole world to see during several nationally televised contests. He was also caught on camera shouting at his position coach, Bob Bicknell during the loss to the Minnesota Vikings last season. I should also add that Kelly and Bicknell have been good friends for the better part of part of 20 years and that could have also led to Jackson’s release, but anyone’s guess is better than mine. After lingering thoughts about how head coach Chip Kelly and the Eagles  could release their best receiving target for nothing, I have come to the conclusion that the Eagles made the right choice. According to a new report from CBS Philadelphia, Jackson was a huge problem for Kelly and the Eagles’ locker room and was not respected by his teammates. Another source who spoke to CBS described Jackson’s behavior as a self-centered, diva wideout. Everybody knows what happened the last time the Eagles had a diva wideout on their hands. Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens conducted an interview in his driveway, while doing sit-ups, during the 2005 season and was dismissed from the team for conduct detrimental to the team. Just a year earlier, Owens helped elevate the Eagles to the Superbowl where they would eventually lose to the New England Patriots. Jackson had not even been able to help his former team get back to the Superbowl again. Kelly has been working to develop a team-oriented locker room and Jackson’s attitude was holding him back. Jackson lacked contribution in what Kelly is trying to implement into the Eagles organization. Over the last couple of days reports have also surfaced that Jackson was seen by teammates cussing out Kelly and showed blatant disrespect to the head coach. This tells me that Jackson, allegedly, was trying to bully his rookie head coach and make himself seem superior to the new leader of the squad. The Eagles do not need someone like that one their team. By getting rid of Jackson, the Eagles should be able to grow more as a unit and will help Kelly continue to make strides in building a team that will continue to succeed in his image.