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DeSean Jackson

Eagles Notes: Kelly, Matthews, Carroll, Long, Barkley, Villanueva

June 21st, 2014 at 11:56am CST by Matt Feminis

Eagles second-rounder Jordan Matthews “caught everything thrown his way and lined up both inside and outside,” according to Phillymag.com’s Sheil Kapadia, who took stock of the team’s draft picks now that spring work has concluded. Kapadia expects Matthews to emerge as the team’s No. 1 slot receiver.

Other Eagles tidbits:

  • Head coach Chip Kelly held a press this week and was again asked about the unceremonious divorce from DeSean Jackson, but Kelly made it clear that he’s not in the message sending business. Bob Grotz of the Delaware County Daily Times relayed that bit of information as well as a related quote from center Jason Kelce which indicates that, while the Jackson release resonated, it has not affected the team’s stability: “As opposed to the way a lot of the media portrays it I don’t think that the release was solely on character things and a lot of other things, I think that might be something that’s been played out way too far. I think there are a lot of different factors. His release has not changed in my mind anything about the way this organization runs, the culture of it or anything.”
  • Free agent acquisition Nolan Carroll and 2013 undrafted free agent Travis Long were among a handful of under-the-radar players highlighted by Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. Now two years removed from a reconstructed ACL, Long is pushing for a roster spot and has drawn praise from Kelly.
  • Long would help his chances of making the roster by proving himself valuable on special teams, an area the Eagles have made a concerted effort to improve, notes ESPN’s Phil Sheridan: “The Eagles added Bryan Braman, a linebacker who excelled on special teams in Houston, and cornerback Nolan Carroll, an excellent gunner on coverage teams. Safety Chris Maragos was a special teams regular for Seattle last year. Darren Sproles, who will see plenty of time on offense, is a first-rate return man.”
  • Is Matt Barkley‘s arm strength a major concern? Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com thinks so.
  • Army product Alejandro Villanueva, an undrafted free agent, is a long shot, but his work ethic is noteworthy and worth reading about. Kelly told team website writer Bo Wulf he’s “amazed at everything that Alejandro does.”

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Jackson, Giants

June 9th, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys may currently be listed as having nearly $11MM in cap space, but that doesn’t mean the team has as much breathing room as it may seem, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Archer observes, that figure doesn’t include the contracts of Dallas’ top two draft picks, it doesn’t take into account per-game roster bonuses for players like Henry Melton and Anthony Spencer, and it doesn’t include injury settlements for any players who get hurt during camp. Still, the Cowboys should have enough room to extend Tyron Smith and Dez Bryant if they choose to do so this year, since those deals could be structured in a way that doesn’t significantly impact this year’s cap hits.

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • A federal court filing reveals that DeSean Jackson names former agent Drew Rosenhaus as the driving force behind an ill-fated 2011 holdout that didn’t result in a new deal, writes Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. According to the legal filing, Jackson hired Rosenhaus in part because the agent assured the receiver he had “close ties to Eagles management” and could renegotiate a new contract before or during the 2010 season. The filing is the latest development in a financial dispute between Jackson and Rosenhaus over $500K+ that the agent paid the wideout to become and remain his client.
  • The Cowboys made it clear how much they value probable starter J.J. Wilcox when they decided not to draft a safety until the seventh round, says Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
  • In photo gallery form, the Dallas Morning News lists the five worst contracts on the Cowboys‘ cap, with Sean Lee‘s and Brandon Carr‘s deals leading the way.
  • Paul Schwartz of the New York Post takes a look at how all the Giants‘ veteran newcomers are fitting in with their new team.

NFC East Notes: Jackson, Orakpo, Kerrigan

April 28th, 2014 at 2:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Head coach Chip Kelly finally discussed the Eagles‘ decision to release DeSean Jackson, and he had an oft-repeated refrain today when asked about the move. Repeatedly asked about Jackson, Kelly stated several times that the move was “purely a football decision” (Twitter link). Here’s more from Kelly, as well as a few notes on a pair of the Eagles’ division rivals:

  • According to Kelly, the Eagles simply decided to go in “a different direction” at the wide receiver position and didn’t find any trade takers (Twitter link). Kelly added that the team came back from the owner meetings without any trade offers for the receiver, and simply decided to release him (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). It may be hard to believe there were no offers on the table for such an explosive playmaker, but Jackson’s previous contract wasn’t exactly cap-friendly.
  • Although Brian Orakpo may play the 2014 season under the franchise tag, he’s still hoping for a long-term deal with the Redskins. However, he indicated today that he won’t let his contract situation affect his participation in offseason workouts and camp: “I’m not going to be in a situation where I’m holding out and all the distractions that come with it,” Orakpo said, according to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (Twitter link).
  • The Redskins‘ other outside linebacker, Ryan Kerrigan, is hoping the club decides to exercise his fifth-year option, as Boyer tweets. According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, GM Bruce Allen said today that the club will “have an announcement soon” on Kerrigan, which sounds to me like a signal that the team will be picking up that option.
  • Asked about Dallas’ potential interest in Johnny Manziel, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones was noncommittal, telling 105.3 The Fan that the team hasn’t finalized the quarterbacks on its draft board yet (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).

Extra Points: Dansby, Seahawks, Texans

April 24th, 2014 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL believes the Eagles released DeSean Jackson based on football reasons and not due to alleged gang connections, according to NFL senior vice president of law and labor policy Adolpho Birch. “I think we are comfortable that the decisions that were made on both ends were football decisions,” Birch told reporters, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Both sides, the objective that they sought from a football perspective, they got, whether that be the Eagles or the Redskins. I think the player’s going to be in a good position. I think at the end of the day, everyone was comfortable with that.”

  • Cardinals veteran Darnell Dockett was sad to see Karlos Dansby go to the Browns this offseason, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “I’ve got a lot of respect for our guy that left, I love him like a brother but we were one or two pieces away from making a lot of noise,” Dockett said. “But we are going to regroup. Our GM, coaches, owner will get someone to fill that role and we’ve got guys with enthusiasm of getting that opportunity for that role. They know they have big shoes to fill.“
  • Former Vikings and Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson worked out for the Seahawks today, a source told Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The 26-year-old saw action in ten games last season for Minnesota.
  • Wide receiver Armanti Edwards is also working out for the Seahawks, a source tells Caplan (on Twitter). The wide receiver/special teamer split time between the Panthers and Browns last season. His campaign ended in November when he suffered an ankle injury in Cleveland.
  • Former Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson had a very positive visit with the Texans today, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Getlin adds (link) that Robinson’s agent, Eric Metz, has been good friends with Houston offensive line coach Paul Dunn since college. If the Texans are really high on Robinson, they can likely move down a few spots and walk away with additional picks.
  • Sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com that if the Texans take a defensive player first overall and draft a quarterback atop the second round, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr, if available, would be Houston’s top two targets.
  • Baylor’s Demetri Goodson is scheduled to meet with the Texans on Saturday, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. The Cowboys, Dolphins, Saints and Eagles have also shown interest in the former Gonzaga point guard turned cornerback.

Recent Signings Facing Former Teams In 2014

April 23rd, 2014 at 9:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 2014 NFL schedule has been released, and it gives us an interesting chance to see some players face their former teammates for the first time. Some of these players were traded or otherwise unwanted by their former teams, and others spurned their hometown fans for greener pastures elsewhere. In all cases, there are some fans or players who must be licking their chops to finally treat these players in their new colors as enemies for the first time.

The following players will get the chance to play against their former teams in 2014:

  • Matt Schaub will either get a chance to show up his replacement in Week 2, or possibly hope to avoid getting tormented by Jadeveon Clowney when the Texans visit the Raiders on September 14th (4:25 EST, CBS).
  • DeSean Jackson would love a chance to show the world the Eagles made a mistake, and he will return to Philadelphia for Week 3 on September 21st (1:00 EST, FOX). Jackson will get a second chance on Saturday, December 20th (4:30 EST, NFL Network/CBS).
  • Branden Albert got see Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in practice for years. He will get them in a game for the first time when the Dolphins host the Chiefs on September 21st (4:25 EST, CBS).
  • Julius Peppers can wreak some havoc in a new system in his former stadium when the Packers visit the Bears on September 28th (1:00 EST, FOX). Peppers will get a second chance in Green Bay on November 9th in primetime (8:30 EST, NBC).
  • Steve Smith told the fans to “Put your goggles on cause there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere,” when he signed with the Ravens. Well have your goggles ready for Week 4, when the Ravens host the Panthers on September 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Alex Smith didn’t get to see Jim Harbaugh last year, but will finally get his shot to go after his former coach when the Chiefs travel to face the 49ers on October 5th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Eric Decker will get to watch Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ offense churn on without him when the Broncos play the Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Brandon Spikes will have to be prepared for the Patriots after a contentious offseason, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been known to pick on players before. The Bills host the Patriots on October 12th (1:00 EST, CBS) and travel to New England on December 28th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Darrelle Revis will get to feast on a passing offense that struggled in 2013, and will likely invite Eric Decker to Revis Island when the Patriots host the Jets on Thursday Night Football on October 16th (8:25 EST, CBS/NFL Network). Revis will then get to return to a stadium filled with jeering fans on December 21st (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Jared Veldheer seemingly couldn’t leave Oakland quick enough, and the Raiders will host his Cardinals on October 19th (4:25 EST, FOX).
  • Jason Hatcher had a career season with the Cowboys in 2013, and now returns to a 3-4 defense hoping to build upon his great season against his former team when the Redskins head to Dallas for Monday Night Football on October 27th (8:30 EST, ESPN). His second meeting with the Cowboys will be in Week 17, when the Redskins host their rivals on December 28th (1:00 EST, FOX).
  • Aqib Talib took the money to switch from the AFC runner up to the AFC champion, and he will take part in his third Brady-Manning matchup, his first as a Bronco, on November 2nd (4:25 EST, CBS).
  • Hakeem Nicks looked like he hated playing with the Giants in 2013, and this is his chance at revenge after feeling mistreated by the Giants organization and fans when the Colts visit MetLife Stadium for Monday Night Football on November 3rd (8:30 EST, ESPN).
  • Jared Allen gets to tee off against the Vikings offensive line he has been practicing against for the past six years, and for the first time since 2007 will finally get to share the field with Adrian Peterson on November 16th when the Bears host the Vikings (1:00 EST, FOX). Allen will head back to Minnesota on December 28th (1:00, FOX).
  • Lovie Smith gets his shot to beat the team that fired him, and will bring former Bear Josh McCown with him to move the football against a no longer feared Bears defense on November 9th (1:00 EST, FOX).
  • Mike Pettine left the Bills to coach the Browns, and will have to return to Buffalo on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Michael Johnson left the Bengals to be the featured pass rusher for the Buccaneers, and he will get his chance to beat Andrew Whitworth and the Bengals offensive line to get a hit on Andy Dalton on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Rodger Saffold can show the Raiders exactly how healthy he is after the team signed him to a huge money deal and subsequently failed him on his physical, voiding the deal. The Rams host the Raiders on November 30th (1:00 EST, CBS).
  • Henry Melton got hurt after receiving the franchise tag by the Bears, and will get a chance to prove he is still an effective player when the Cowboys visit the Bears for Thursday Night Football on December 4th (8:25 EST, NFL Network).
  • Chris Johnson will get to face the Titans for the first time, as he tries to show the team he still has some miles left on his tires when the Jets go to Tennessee on December 14th (4:05 EST, CBS).

Redskins Rumors: Orakpo, Jackson, Williams

April 16th, 2014 at 4:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins’ deal with safety Akeem Davis was on and off before being on again this week. Washington agreed to sign the Memphis product on Thursday but the deal was nixed by the league office on Monday. Later in the afternoon, the Redskins and the NFL cleared up whatever the issue was and the contract became official. The latest out of D.C..

  • Brian Orakpo told reporters, including Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter), that he’d be disappointed if the Redskins didn’t sign him to a long-term extension. Washington has a few months before the July 15th deadline for franchised players. The defensive end’s one-year tender for 2014, signed in late March, grants him a $11.455MM salary. Orakpo started 15 games for Washington last season, recording 60 tackles, 10 sacks, and returning an interception for a touchdown.
  • The NFLPA has decided that Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson owes agent Drew Rosenhaus $516K+ in unpaid loans and agent fees, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. Rosenhaus had been seeking nearly $778K for loans, interest, credit card charges, and insurance premiums from Jackson (link). Part of what the wide receiver owes to Rosenhaus came in the form of a $375K interest-free loan he received from the agent when he signed and of that $375K, the agent said he’d forgive $175K if DeSean allowed him to negotiate his then-upcoming contract with the Eagles (Twitter links).
  • John Keim of ESPN.com stacked up the salaries of the Redskins‘ offense versus the rest of the NFL. For the most part, the Redskins have more bargains offensively in part because they’ve found younger contributors through the draft or they landed players such as Jackson after they’d been cut, thereby lowering their price. The Redskins have only one player who will count among the top five at their position in 2014 – left tackle Trent Williams.

NFC Notes: Giants, Jackson, Visits

April 12th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

It has been difficult to predict which way the Giants will go during the draft in May, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Mock drafts have the Giants looking at a number of different positions, from defensive tackle to offensive tackle, from receiver to cornerback. Aaron Donald of Pittsburgh and Eric Ebron of North Carolina are the most common choices, with three mock drafts selecting them out of a dozen. Mike Evans of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan of Michigan each appear on two mocks, with Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert and Notre Dame’s Zack Martin rounding out.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Reports stated that DeSean Jackson was more trouble than he was worth to the Eagles, but LeSean McCoy stuck up for his former teammate, writes Les Bowen of Philly.com. “Playing against him is really going to be different,” said McCoy. “It’s some big shoes to fill. DeSean’s by far one of the biggest playmakers in the game, and the biggest deep threat there is in the game. Some big shoes to fill, for sure.“
  • Preston Brown of Louisville will visit the Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, reports Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Brown said he grew up in Cincinnati watching Mike Zimmer coordinated defenses.
  • Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin is set to visit with the 49ers, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Colvin tore his ACL at the senior bowl in January, which will hurt his draft stock, but the 49ers have 11 draft picks and could take a chance on the rehabbing corner.

AFC Notes: Mack, Burleson, Draft

April 5th, 2014 at 4:22pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jaguars have met with free agent center Alex Mack, reports BigCatCountry.com (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 confirms that Mack has already visited with the team (via Twitter).

Mack received the transition tag from the Browns earlier this offseason, which gives the Browns the right to match any offer.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC:

  • The Browns have hosted former Lion Nate Burleson, according Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter). Burleson, 32, had 191 catches between 2009 and 2011, but struggled to stay on the field the past two seasons.
  • The Titans brought in West Virginia running back Charles Sims for a visit, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). With uncertainty at the position without Chris Johnson, the team is looking for long-term answers at the position.
  • Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle was taking Raiders questions on Twitter, and discussed if the recent signings of Jacoby Ford and DeSean Jackson would push the team to choose Clemson’s Sammy Watkins with the fifth pick in the draft. Tafur believes that Watkins and Kalil Mack of Buffalo are both in play for the Raiders.

NFC Notes: Jackson, Hawkins, Coleman, Giants, Panthers

April 5th, 2014 at 9:02am CST by Matt Feminis

Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson claims the team never specified why he was cut. “I was sitting there waiting for the reason why, but that’s basically all I can (recall) from the conversation,” Jackson told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “. … I got off the phone. I was like, ‘Are you sure? That’s it?’ We hung up. That was it.” 

While the Eagles haven’t addressed the issue directly, more details of Jackson’s behavior have emerged thanks to Joseph Santoliquito of CBS Philly.

In other news and notes from around the NFC. . .

  • Receiver Lavelle Hawkins worked out for the Buccanneers, according to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post. Hawkins, who was cut by the Patriots last year, played for Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at Cal.
  • Wilson also reports that former Eagles safety Kurt Coleman worked out for the Colts.
  • The Bears are not actively seeking to replace second-year right tackle Jordan Mills, writes ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright in a mailbag piece. Says Wright: “…the Bears are fairly happy with Mills, and expect him to improve in his second year. Mills to me has a very bright future in the NFL, and has the right attitude in terms of doing what it takes day in and day out to be a pro.”
  • The Packers’ biggest defensive weakness is a lack of speed at inside linebacker, writes ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, who suggests Alabama’s C.J. Mosley for the 21st pick.
  • The Panthers could very well draft two receivers and two offensive tackles, speculates ESPN.com’s David Newton, who also says the “Double Trouble” running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should remain intact for two more seasons.
  • The Giants earned a B-minus grade in free agency in the eyes of NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, who recaps and reviews the team’s signings.

NFLPA To Investigate Eagles

April 4th, 2014 at 6:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith appeared on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning” earlier today, to discuss the circumstances surrounding DeSean Jackson‘s release from the Eagles. During the interview, Smith mentioned that the player’s association would be investigating whether the Eagles had leaked the story of Jackson’s affiliation with a Los Angeles gang to NJ.com, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

“We’ve been in touch with DeSean, and first and foremost he is a tremendous football player and great young man,” Smith said. “On the issue of how he was released, whether or not there were comments or leaks from the team, misinformation to the media coming from the team, that’s something that we’re going to look at. We’ve always been aggressive about protecting the integrity of our players.”

A spokesman for the NFLPA confirmed Smith’s comments, although it is unclear how long the investigation process will take. It has not yet been reported what a potential punishment would be incurred should the Eagles be found guilty.

In an interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Jackson was asked if he thought the Eagles could have potentially leaked the story in order to facilitate his release. Jackson said he did not believe the Eagles would have leaked the story, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter).

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