DeSean Jackson Released by Eagles [update]: Signed by Washington

[Deus Irae]

DeSean Jackson was nowhere near the scene of the crime when, on Dec. 29, 2010, 14-year-old Taburi Watson flashed a rival gang sign at two men as he rode his bicycle through South Los Angeles.

The men, reportedly members of the Crips, responded to the teen's provocative gesture by shooting him multiple times, police said. Paramedics pronounced Watson dead at the scene.

"DeSean Jackson was not part of the case," Jane Robison, a spokesman for the LA District Attorney's Office, told NJ.com. "He was not a charged defendant. He was not a witness."

Jackson was, however, associated with Theron Shakir, one of the two men charged with the murder. Along with co-defendant Marques Binns, Shakir is a purported member of the Crips. In addition, Shakir, known as "T-Ron," is a rapper who recorded for Jaccpot Records, a label owned by Jackson. The two were close enough that they appear together frequently in photographs -- including pictures posted by Jackson to Instagram while Shakir sat in jail awaiting trial for the teen's execution.


...Shakir, who was, in fact, acquitted of Watson's murder and a related gun charge in January 2013...

DeSean Jackson's gang connections troubling to Eagles | NJ.com

 

[Rob0729]

That's because it is not widely reported. These cases are 3-5 years old and a reporter who was interested in the "why" Jackson would be released by the Eagles did the leg work to uncover the informations. If reporters dug into every NFL players life they would find many associated with known gang members. You do not grow up in the areas where many of these kids grow up and not have some level of connection to the gang element.

In addition Jackson owns a record label so the fact he is affiliated with a rapper who has gang ties is not shocking to me. Paul Pierce is an example of a player who had those types of affiliations and was a solid character person.

I'm sorry, but in today's media, if there were a lot of players who were friends with accused killers, we would be hearing about at least some of them.

But forget that. What about the fact he was blowing off team meetings to hang with friends. Or that the team believes his home robbery story has so many holes in it? Or the fact the Eagles wanted to get rid of a 1,300 yard receiver in his prime that they are willing to eat $6 million of dead money? Or how about his constant demands for more money even though he just got a new deal?

There are far too many red flags on this guy and he only had one year of great production. He had a couple other 1,000 yard seasons, but he was only good one year. He also seems like a very limited player in what he does. He does what he does very well, but he isn't the type of WR who thrives in this offense.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Just heard on NFLN Charlie ( I know everything about Pats before Bill does) Casserly, He said Pats not interested in Jackson count them out of running.

If the attached is accurate, I can understand why BB may be concerned with how he'd fit into the culture.

A Timeline of the Eagles's DeSean Jackson's Attitude Problem | The Philly Post | News | Philadelphia Magazine

He is talented though...

 

[Rob0729]

the ravens need someone to maintain their quota of thugs with Ray rice possibly heading to prison.

They already have Torrey Smith. Smith is a similar type of player although far more inconsistent.

 

[FourierSeries]

Adam Schefter
1 min ·
Statement from former Eagles WR DeSean Jackson:
"First I would like to thank the Eagles organization, the Eagles fans and the city of Philadelphia for my time in Philly. I would also like to thank coach Andy Reed for bringing me in. Secondly, I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field. I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible. I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true . I look forward to working hard for my new team. God Bless."

 

[Brady6]

Indeed, people should read the entire NJ.com article before replying.



DeSean Jackson's gang connections troubling to Eagles | NJ.com



I doubt ANY team in the NFL takes a piece of this action in the post AHern era. Certainly not the Pats. No way the Krafts take this player on.

Unless Jackson has some type of impending charges to be filed against him I think it is likely he will sign the most lucrative contract of any NFL WR this offseason.

Along those same line if Hernandez by some chance is found not guilty he will be signed by a NFL team almost immediately.

Teams want to win, everything else is secondary, let's not kid ourselves.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Godzilla Nope

To play Devil's advocate for a moment, though, one of the issues with Hernandez was that New England was the closest team to his hometown. Perhaps a change of scenery might fix problems.

That said, I'll see your Godzilla Nope and raise you with Honey Badger Nope.

 

[SB39]

There are far too many red flags on this guy and he only had one year of great production. He had a couple other 1,000 yard seasons, but he was only good one year. He also seems like a very limited player in what he does. He does what he does very well, but he isn't the type of WR who thrives in this offense.

whoa whoa whoa.... I don't think the Patriots should sign him but let's not go overboard. If you took away the off field issues, he is a phenomenal talent who would thrive tremendously haveing the GOAT throwing to him. He may not break my top-5 WR's in the league but he's darn close.

 

[PatsFan2]

Desean Jackson = nothing but trouble nuff said!

 

[Rob0729]

Adam Schefter
1 min ·
Statement from former Eagles WR DeSean Jackson:
"First I would like to thank the Eagles organization, the Eagles fans and the city of Philadelphia for my time in Philly. I would also like to thank coach Andy Reed for bringing me in. Secondly, I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field. I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible. I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true . I look forward to working hard for my new team. God Bless."

Unfortunately, whether it is true or not, I wouldn't expect him to say anything else. What would you expect him to say?

I don't doubt that he is not a gang member, but that doesn't mean he doesn't associate with bad people. Aaron Hernandez was not a gang member either. But he associated with them.

 

[Brady6]

Desean Jackson released

I'm sorry, but in today's media, if there were a lot of players who were friends with accused killers, we would be hearing about at least some of them.



But forget that. What about the fact he was blowing off team meetings to hang with friends. Or that the team believes his home robbery story has so many holes in it? Or the fact the Eagles wanted to get rid of a 1,300 yard receiver in his prime that they are willing to eat $6 million of dead money? Or how about his constant demands for more money even though he just got a new deal?



There are far too many red flags on this guy and he only had one year of great production. He had a couple other 1,000 yard seasons, but he was only good one year. He also seems like a very limited player in what he does. He does what he does very well, but he isn't the type of WR who thrives in this offense.

Just to be clear I'm not advocating to sign Jackson. Given that the Hernandez situations is still very current this team would be committing PR suicide signing Jackson in light of this story. I'm not at all pro signing him I am just saying his affiliations are not that uncommon among pro athletes.

As I said in the other thread a week of two ago, I am against signing Jackson because I have nightmares of him catching the potential game winning touchdown in the SB at the 15 yard line with no defender in sight and starting his celebration at the 2 yard line and end up being tackled at the 1 yard line as time expires.

 

[VrabelJr]

DeSean Jackson will go to a team with a young QB with a rocket arm. Brady and DeSean Jackson are a terrible match for each other.

 

[RayClay]

Wow, what a shock!

 

[Deus Irae]

The Patriots would be fools not to take a serious look at this kid. It doesn't mean that they should grab him, but immediately ruling him out without damned good reason (and "AHern!" isn't damned good reason) would be a failure of the front office/ownership.

And "Chip doesn't like him" does not qualify as a damned good reason, either.

 

[Rob0729]

whoa whoa whoa.... I don't think the Patriots should sign him but let's not go overboard. If you took away the off field issues, he is a phenomenal talent who would thrive tremendously haveing the GOAT throwing to him. He may not break my top-5 WR's in the league but he's darn close.

Not going overboard at all. Jackson is not a route runner and I have serious doubts he could thrive in the Patriots' offense. Not all players can play in every system. Some players can be studs in one system and struggle in another.

I mean Tom Brady is arguably the greatest QB of all time and he would be a joke in the 49ers' system that they run with Kaepernick.

 

[Hazy]

KT was arrested 7+ times and had gang affiliations. People can grow up.

I'm torn on Desean.

Massive difference between KT and Jackson.

KT HAD gang connections...Jackson HAS gang connections.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm sorry, but in today's media, if there were a lot of players who were friends with accused killers, we would be hearing about at least some of them.

Strongly disagree. I don't know it for a fact, obviously, but I bet you'd be surprised by the number of players who have acquaintances--even close ones--who have been suspected and even charged in murder cases.

But forget that. What about the fact he was blowing off team meetings to hang with friends. Or that the team believes his home robbery story has so many holes in it? Or the fact the Eagles wanted to get rid of a 1,300 yard receiver in his prime that they are willing to eat $6 million of dead money? Or how about his constant demands for more money even though he just got a new deal?

That's the real issue. My guess is that they got rid of him more because of his inconsistent behavior in the locker room and off the field than because a friend on the other side of the country was acquitted of a murder charge a couple of years ago. The fact that his name came up tangentially in two murders is a cause to worry, but that's not even close to enough to warrant cutting a guy in its own right.

There are far too many red flags on this guy and he only had one year of great production. He had a couple other 1,000 yard seasons, but he was only good one year. He also seems like a very limited player in what he does. He does what he does very well, but he isn't the type of WR who thrives in this offense.

Huh? The guy has 6100 yards and 32 touchdowns in 6 seasons. Are you seriousluy claiming that 1156 yards and 9 touchdowns (his stat line in 2009) isn't a "good year"? Because if that's the case, then none of Amendola, Edelman, and LaFell has *ever* had a good year, so I guess you must be really concerned about the WR position.

 

[Bill Lee]

Unless Jackson has some type of impending charges to be filed against him I think it is likely he will sign the most lucrative contract of any NFL WR this offseason.

Along those same line if Hernandez by some chance is found not guilty he will be signed by a NFL team almost immediately.

Teams want to win, everything else is secondary, let's not kid ourselves.

If your theory is right and football is all about the money no one will offer him the "the most lucrative contract of any NFL WR this offseason" because he's "damaged goods" and so the money isn't justified.

Also, if it's all about the money, given the worth of football franchises are measured in the hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars, why put that at risk for one player, then make him the highest paid WR on top of that?

I suppose some team will make him an offer, but IMHO they're idiots for doing so. The upside gain just isn't worth the downside risk.

 

[FourierSeries]

The Patriots would be fools not to take a serious look at this kid. It doesn't mean that they should grab him, but immediately ruling him out without damned good reason (and "AHern!" isn't damned good reason) would be a failure of the front office/ownership.

And "Chip doesn't like him" does not qualify as a damned good reason, either.

Exactly. People here are being far too emotional and showing a complete lack of rational thinking on the matter.

They should certainly look at him and perform the due diligence. If they decide that he is not worth the risk and that he is likely to be another Hernandez, then so be it. But if after rigorously looking into his situation they decide he can help the team and will likely not cause any problems, they should definitely sign him. He is far too talented to ignore.

 

[RobertWeathers]

DeSean Jackson will go to a team with a young QB with a rocket arm. Brady and DeSean Jackson are a terrible match for each other.

There are lots of QBs who are young, have rocket arms that are awful QBs.

Please explain why DJ would not want to play with a future HoF QB.

Please don't say that TB throws a crappy deep ball.