Well, if you love the Philadelphia Eagles, this is unfortunate.
If you’ve found your way to news or sports circuits, you’re already well aware of the fact that Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver DeSean Jackson made some very insensitive and racially-charged comments over the course of a weekend where so many Americans celebrate and would rather focus on what’s good about our great nation. There’s no reason to rehash those comments here. They’ve been mentioned and reported on enough.
What may need mention is the fact that, while racism of any sort should never be tolerated, this truly comes at a very bad time as many of us were beginning to come together on so many avenues and topics of unity and equality.
For that reason, everyone is a little disappointed today. While differing opinions of flags, what may or may not have happened on the Nascar circuit, and how everyone should move forward permeate the headlines, there were just as many people, if not more, who were more focused on changing for the better. Yes, this is unfortunate, the timing makes it worse, and DeSean Jackson should have known better.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s like history is repeating itself.
Jackson was a part of the Eagles team in 2013 that dealt with some poorly thought out comments by one Riley Cooper. He saw firsthand what divisiveness can do to a team community and locker room. Again, he should have known better, but that doesn’t change what he’s done. All we can hope is he redeems himself and the Eagles organization handles this in both a timely and in the appropriate manner.
On July 7th, DeSean Jackson offered an apology.
Here’s a response from the Eagles organization, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter account.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) July 7, 2020
As one might imagine, Jackson’s comments have created a nationwide stir as everyone from fans to former Eagles president Joe Banner has offered their response. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted the following shortly thereafter:
"Eagles decision on whether to keep DeSean Jackson could come down to whether post is a default under his contract. Jackson is guaranteed $4.8M this year in salary and already received a $2M option bonus. Eagles could try to figure out a way out of guaranteed salary first."
We’ll have to wait and see if the release of DeSean Jackson is actually an option. Keep an eye on this one as it’s a long way from being over.