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DeSean Jackson

Extra Points: Bears, Mack, Steelers, Jackson

March 23rd, 2014 at 9:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are considering veterans as they search for a backup to quarterback Jay Cutler, but coach Marc Trestman feels good about what Jordan Palmer showed late in the preseason last year, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. “We give Jordan a lot of credit,” Trestman said. “He literally learned the offense on his own because we didn’t have time to work daily with him. He worked. He worked overtime and he learned the offense and came in and played admirably in the preseason. He moved the football team and was very sufficient. He’s got a lot of experience and not a lot of wear and tear. He’s been around a long time. Obviously, we’re going to have another one in there and see how that goes over the next couple of months.” More from around the NFL..

  • A source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) that the Ravens have a high opinion of Alex Mack but they’ve believed all along that signing the center would be complicated and expensive to pull off.
  • Steelers GM Kevin Colbert says that with the available talent in this draft, trading down is the best strategy. Unfortunately for him, he says he’s far from alone in that thinking. “It makes more sense in this draft than trading up,” Colbert said, writes Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). “I’m sure everyone shares the same thought.”
  • Jets owner Woody Johnson definitely has a win-now mindset, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I’m not going to use the word ‘patient’ anymore. We want to do it now,” Johnson said.
  • Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk writes that Johnson could face a tampering violation for discussing his interest in bringing DeSean Jackson to the Jets.

More DeSean: False Rumors And The Jets

March 23rd, 2014 at 3:23pm CST by Rory Parks

3:23pm: Jets owner Woody Johnson indicated the team’s interest in Jackson by name, saying “We’re looking at a lot of players, including DeSean,” according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (Twitter link). However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Johnson implied that a trade was not the best option to acquire Jackson, ostensibly meaning that the Jets hope the Eagles simply release the receiver.

9:18am: Here at PFR, we have written extensively on the potential trade or release of mercurial wideout DeSean Jackson since rumors first surfaced that the Eagles would listen to trade offers for him at the beginning of this month (check out a useful roundup of Jackson links here). At some point over the course of the past few weeks, the Patriots, 49ers, Jets, Panthers, and Seahawks have all been said to have some interest in Jackson, either in trading for him or signing him if he should be released.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has added an interesting twist to the story. He writes that there is “suspicion” in league circles that the interest of at least some of the above-mentioned teams has been fabricated by the Eagles in an attempt to create a trade market for Jackson. Of course, if Philadelphia is indeed leaking false rumors, the strategy does not appear to be paying off, as there has yet to be a single report of a firm offer for Jackson.

However, the Jets’ interest does appear to be genuine. New York has been the team linked most frequently to Jackson, and Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes that the Jets have the ammo to bring him aboard. As Cimini notes, the Jets “have the resources to be a major player. They have the need, the cap space (more than $30 million) and the right recruiter (Michael Vick).”

Cimini adds that the Jets have a “measured interest” in trading for Jackson, but that their interest would certainly intensify if Jackson were released. Nonetheless, Cimini himself believes acquiring Jackson would be out of character for GM John Idzik. Jackson is a “problem child,” and the fact that the Eagles appear willing to rid themselves of such an integral component to their 2013 success speaks volumes. Cimini also notes that Jackson and Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg appeared to have something of a rocky relationship when Mornhinweg was in Philadelphia.

49ers, Eagles Not Discussing DeSean Jackson

March 23rd, 2014 at 1:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers have not contacted the Eagles regarding the availability of DeSean Jackson, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. 49ers general manager Trent Baalke denied having any discussions involving Jackson, who is expected to either be traded or released shortly.

The 49ers have shown interest in multiple wide receivers during free agency, but have yet to land a player to complement current starters Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. While Jackson would add an electrifying option to the San Francisco offense, his $10.5MM base salary in 2014 poses a problem, as the 49ers only have roughly $3.7MM in cap space available, and need to keep room for an expected Colin Kaepernick extension.

Baalke did add one interesting statement, perhaps not specifically about Jackson, but about roster construction as a whole, that could point to a trade being unlikely: “I do believe you’re never one player away because too much can happen,” said the GM. “You could acquire that player and the very next day that player gets injured and he’s done for the year. And then you’re back to square one and you have to tell yourself, ‘Well, we’re still one player away.’ I don’t buy that philosophy.”

Roundup: DeSean Jackson Rumors

March 22nd, 2014 at 10:57pm CST by Peter Sowards

It’s been a busy few days of rumors involving wide receiver DeSean Jackson, so allow us at Pro Football Rumors to round them up for you:

  • The trade market for Jackson might be thin, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • It’s “highly unlikely” that Jackson lands in New England with the Patriots, says Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com. But, that’s what they said about Darrelle Revis, too, Curran notes.
  • The Jets, with ample cap space and newly acquired Michael Vick, have had had internal discussions with regard to trading for Jackson.
  • Philadelphia reportedly wants at least a third-round pick for Jackson, but that might be too much to ask for.
  • A link to the story discussing Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News’ report that Jackson will be released if he cannot be traded.
  • A report that Jackson is “troubled” by what has been written about him and is unsure of his standing with the team.
  • Two sources close to Jackson believe he is done with the team.
  • A poll asking the question if the Eagles will trade Jackson.
  • Our updates as of Wednesday regarding Jackson.
  • The Eagles have been with respect to Jackson, but the team’s decision-makers won’t be able to avoid the media at the league’s annual meetings next week.
  • Another report linking the Jets to Jackson.
  • A report of whether the Eagles may gauge interest in Jackson.

NFL Notes: Smith, Vick, Jones-Drew

March 22nd, 2014 at 8:44pm CST by Peter Sowards

In his first public comments since the team signed Michael Vick, Jets quarterback and second-year pro Geno Smith was unabashed in his praise of the move and the man himself.

“Awesome, man. Vick’s my guy,” Smith said Saturday, according to the Associated Press. “We needed to find a guy that was legitimately a guy that could come in and play. I think that’s what we did.”

Signing just a one-year deal for $5MM, Vick figures to compete with Smith for the starting job.

Check the notes below for more NFL-related content…

Teams Inquiring On DeSean Jackson

March 22nd, 2014 at 7:42pm CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 7:42pm:  The Jets have had internal discussions about adding Jackson and will consider trading for him, a source told Brian Costello of the New York Post.

TUESDAY, 6:57pm: A source close to Jackson tells Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (on Twitter) that the Eagles have not contacted the receiver about the trade talks and rumors.

6:10pm: Albert Breer of the NFL Network (on Twitter) hears that the 49ers aren’t interested in Jackson. Right now, they have just $4.22MM in cap space and they have to budget for quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

4:29pm: Rumblings and rumors of potential unease between wide receiver DeSean Jackson and the Eagles have resulted in some trade speculation this month, and according to Derrick Gunn of CSNPhilly.com, those reports have prompted NFL teams to call the Eagles to inquire about Jackson’s availability.

Gunn reports that while the Eagles aren’t shopping Jackson, they’re not hanging up on teams calling to ask about him either. The Patriots and 49ers are among the clubs that have inquired, according to Gunn, who adds that Philadelphia would be seeking at least a third-round pick and potentially more than that for the standout receiver.

I’d be a little surprised if a deal happens, but there are plenty of reasons it might make sense. Jackson has an annual cap hit of $12MM+ for the next three seasons, and with Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin having been locked up this offseason, the Eagles have two cheaper receivers capable of starting, even if neither Cooper and Maclin is a true No. 1. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer also suggested that Jason Avant often acted as the go-between for Jackson and wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell, and Avant has since been released.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (video link) also reported earlier today that the Eagles weren’t actively trying to trade Jackson, but would be willing to listen to offers.

Extra Points: 49ers, Sanchez, Saints

March 22nd, 2014 at 6:01pm CST by Peter Sowards

The other side of the coin to being a team that drafts talent well is that all that talent must be compensated appropriately. This is the conundrum examined by CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco, responding to a reader who questioned the 49ers‘ cap situation. “Teams that do a good job of acquiring talent will always have a difficult time holding onto that talent for future contracts,” Maiocco writes, citing Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati as players in line for blockbuster deals after their contracts expire next offseason.

Rounding up some more links from today in the NFL…

  • ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini looks at what’s next for former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, including a top-five list of potential landing spots: the Rams, Bears, Browns, Bills and Seahawks.
  • Sanchez deserved better from the Jets, writes Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. Cannizzaro contends that the Jets knew their plans for Sanchez — releasing him — long ago, but waited only until right before his $2MM roster bonus was due, and thus decreased the amount of potential landing spots for 2009 fifth overall pick.
  • Mike Triplett of ESPN.com expects Saints head coach Sean Payton to be “more committed than ever to running the ball successfully” next season, Triplett writes in his latest mailbag. But he still takes the “over” on 4,800 passing yards.
  • Can Brian Hoyer be “The Guy” for the Browns? ESPNCleveland.com’s Tony Grossi doesn’t know, but he wants to find out.
  • With electrifying wide receiver DeSean Jackson potentially on his way out of Philadelphia, he could potentially find a home with Andy Reid and the Chiefs, but don’t expect Kansas City to trade for him, writes Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. As Paylor notes, the Chiefs don’t have the necessary cap space to make the move — just $4.8MM — and the team is light on draft picks after the Alex Smith trade.

DeSean Jackson Could Be Released

March 22nd, 2014 at 1:46pm CST by Rob DiRe

While it has been widely reported that the Eagles are trying to trade receiver DeSean Jackson, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that the team will release Jackson if no deal is struck.

In the piece, Mehta credits his source with saying “Philly is trading him or cutting him. That’s a fact. They don’t want him.”

Mehta writes that Jackson seems uninterested in taking a pay cut, but believes that the 27-year-old playmaker will have to restructure his contract in order to get a deal done. Fresh off the NFC Championship game, both the 49ers and the Seahawks have expressed interest in acquiring Jackson, although neither team would be able to squeeze his salary ($12MM per year for three years) into their books.

The Jets and Raiders both have the cap room to absorb Jackson’s salary, but he is still very highly paid. The Raiders may be unwilling to part with a valuable draft pick, and even though the Jets have some extra picks, the report that Jackson will be released hurts the Eagles leverage in trade talks.

The Patriots and Panthers have also been thought of as potential landing spots, but would seem to be equally unwilling to trade a valuable asset for such an expensive player.

DeSean Jackson Believes He Is Done With Eagles

March 21st, 2014 at 9:37pm CST by Rob DiRe

Star receiver DeSean Jackson believes his tenure with the Eagles is over, reports Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com. McManus has spoken with two sources close to Jackson, who attested to the wideout’s belief that he will be traded this offseason.

Jackson has been on the trade block since the beginning of March, due in large part to the big salary commitment he holds on the cap. The receiver will have a cap hold of at least $12MM in each of the next three seasons, which places him among the highest paid pass catchers in the NFL. While he may seem to be overpaid, after setting career highs in receptions and yards and tying his career high in touchdowns in 2013, there is not much more he could have done to justify his paycheck. His speed and playmaking ability would make him dangerous in any offense, and coach Chip Kelly has gotten the most out of him in their first year together.

While no official trade talks have begun, the Jets, Patriots, Raiders, Panthers, and 49ers have been speculated to have interest in acquiring Jackson. The Eagles are reportedly looking for a third-round pick in return for their top receiver. The team acquiring him would not only have to give up the draft pick, but would have to be able to fit an expensive player under their cap going forward.

It is tough to imagine the Eagles explosive offense looking the same in 2014 without one of their biggest contributors. The team did re-sign Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin, the latter of which is almost like an addition after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. They still have one of the best running backs in the league in LeSean McCoy, and added Darren Sproles as another dangerous player who can produce at a number of different spots along the formation. The team could still look to add to its offense in the draft, but if Nick Foles matches his performance from last year, the Eagles should be able to put an above average offense on the field even without replacing Jackson.

Poll: Will Eagles Trade DeSean Jackson?

March 21st, 2014 at 1:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles were at the center of one of the NFL’s most notable trades of the month, acquiring Darren Sproles from the Saints for a fifth-round draft pick. But with plenty of time still remaining in the offseason, it’s possible that the Eagles could still be involved in a bigger deal, trading away an offensive playmaker of their own.

DeSean Jackson has been the subject of trade speculation for the last several weeks, and the rumor mill has been heating up in recent days, with multiple reports suggesting the Eagles were willing to listen to inquires about their star receiver, even if they weren’t necessarily shopping him. Since then, the 49ers, Patriots, Jets, Raiders, and Panthers have been listed among the teams that called Philadelphia to ask about Jackson.

While it may not be news that a club would simply field calls about a player, there are signals that the Eagles are actually considering the possibility of moving Jackson, who has a cap number of $12MM+ in each of the next three seasons. The team has stayed strangely silent about the numerous reports suggesting Jackson may be available, and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports today that the talks with the Panthers actually began when the Eagles “informally” reach out to gauge Carolina’s interest. While the Panthers don’t have the cap flexibility to be real suitors for Jackson, Person’s report suggests that the Eagles aren’t necessarily just sitting back and letting other teams call them.

The Eagles locked up a pair of solid receivers earlier in the offseason, re-signing Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper to new deals. Additionally, Jackson has made a few off-the-field headlines, and moving his contract would free up some cap room. Still, the explosive 27-year-old receiver is coming off a season in which he established new career-highs in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,332), to go along with his nine touchdowns. He’d be sorely missed by the Eagles’ offense, and it may not be worth it to move him if the club can only acquire something like a third-round pick in return.

What do you think? Will Jackson still be an Eagle in Week 1 of the 2014 season, or will he be playing for another team by then?

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