By TORI ADDISON
Staff Writer
After claiming the NFC East last season you would think the Eagles would be smart enough to keep the best player on their roster, but they are not looking very clever as of late. So what if they picked up Darren Sproles in the offseason? They also ditched their best offensive weapon soon after. To release DeSean Jackson due to suspected gang affiliation is not only crazy, but also a move that is really stirring suspicions within the NFL.
The strangest aspect of the situation is that the Eagles never publically confirmed their motive behind releasing Jackson, but are rather leaving it up to assumption. As of right now, we can only suspect that Jackson’s departure from Philly had to do with a report that was published on NJ.com connecting the wide receiver to a gang in Southern California. The report mentioned his relations with one member of the gang who was charged with the murder of a 14-year-old. Other guesses behind his release include his poor attitude in the locker room and the issue of money, but you would think the Eagles would be able to deal with Jackson’s selfishness in return for the career-high numbers he put up last season.
In any case, to dump one of the best receivers in the game due to an unaccredited article sounds a bit crazy. Although Jackson confirmed that he grew up with the member associated with the murder, he also added that he has since cut ties and has never been involved with any gangs. Even the NFL Player’s Association has started to ask questions regarding the situation and at this point it is unclear if even Jackson knows the real reason behind his release.
I guess, if anything, Jackson can thank Aaron Hernandez for the end of his career as an Eagle. You cannot blame teams for being extra careful of players suspected of gang involvement after what the New England Patriots had to deal with when Hernandez was indicted for murder, but at the same time it is wrong to suspect players of gang-related activities when there is no evidence. While the Eagles’ front office could be accurate in their accusations, head coach Chip Kelly sure is going to look like an idiot if the Player’s Association determines otherwise. The Eagles have put themselves in an awkward situation, especially since the issue they had with Riley Cooper last offseason. In essence, why is it acceptable to release a player with limited proof of their off-field affiliations when you have video evidence of another player yelling racial slurs in public? If Kelly is looking to set an ethical standard for the players on his team, he is not doing so very effectively.
Perhaps the worst part of the situation is that the Eagles really did not get rid of Jackson, but rather handed him over to one of their biggest rivals. If anyone is going to have the last laugh in this situation, it is definitely going to be the Redskins’ newly signed wide-receiver. What better way to get back at a team for ditching you than going to play for their division rival? The NFC East just got a whole lot better as the once Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles rivalry has now turned personal and you can guarantee that Jackson is going to be out for blood his first game back at Lincoln Financial Field.
