Report: The Philadelphia Eagles To Use Franchise Tag On Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 13, 2012 9:30 AM EST in Analysis

Even though he pouted his way to the end of the season last year, the Philadelphia Eagles will reportedly use their franchise tag on unrestricted free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. McLane writes:

They will not let their Pro Bowl receiver - whose contract is set to expire - walk without getting something in return, according to NFL sources. So that means the Eagles will do one of three things before March 5:

They will franchise Jackson and keep him for the 2012 season.

They will franchise and then trade him.

Or they will agree to a contract extension with the 25-year-old, an unlikely proposition at this point

A trade after the franchise tag would seem the least likely, due to what the team has to sacrifice to receive that player. And if a contract extension can't be worked out during the trading process, then they take on the guaranteed franchise tag number and risk Jackson entering free agency the following year.

There was some idle speculation based on connections that could have placed Jackson in Cleveland. And there's the overall interest from the Bengals needing a major wide receiver threat opposite of A.J. Green. Jackson and Green. Could you have imagined?

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wait what?

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 13, 2012 9:46 AM EST reply actions

we thought he had a bad attitude before

wow…cant stand this guy…all the talent…and doesnt even realize what he has right now….I just feel sorry for guys like Jackson and T.O.. just a waste

"Mahmoud, Kim Jong, 86 ya sh__ bitches, or Ima do it fo ya"...Luther...Obama's anger translator

by ticalcaldwell on Feb 13, 2012 9:49 AM EST reply actions

Exactly, he wanted a new deal worked out after Philly signed all those guys, quit and was disgruntled.

If they “tag” him, imagine how he’ll play for them next year?

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 13, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

I think of T.O. when I see what is going on with Jackson

It’s really a sad thing to watch

AJ Green = Optimus Prime

by Helmsy on Feb 13, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

I realize what his reputation is.

But the TO comparison is off.

Every single thing TO ever did was about TO. It was about show and look-at-me and a highly concentrated overcompensation self aggrandizement. It was locker room poison, being brutal to every quarterback and coach he ever met. Joe Montana could have fed TO the ball 37 times per game and he’d have complained about how his quarterback wasn’t doing things the right way.

Jackson is highly involved in charity and especially anti-bullying campaigns. He doesn’t have a history of me-first antics, locker room poison or anything like Owens.

What did happen is that, right or wrong, he felt disrespected by the fact that the had clearly been the team’s best receiver and was making league minimum. His reaction to that wasn’t the most adult thing in the world, but exactly who on that team is the veteran voice of reason to instruct him?

So a bad offseason, a late report and he has a bad season. That’s fine. Of course he was still the Eagles’ leading receiver, because that team was BAD.

My gut tells me that Jackson is young, and on a team that paid him a reasonable contract would excel once again. I really think he wants to be good.

I know this won’t be popular but I might even trade the #21 pick for him.

I’m thinking of Green on one side, Jackson on the other, Shipley in the slot, and Gresham at Tight End (With Gruden remembering to use him), Carl Nicks and Bobbie Williams at guard, Trent Richardson at RB. The mind boggles.

by Skyhook on Feb 13, 2012 11:20 AM EST reply actions

Are you serious?

2011 Year of the Red Rifle
Carson Palmer 2011 Comeback Player of the Year

by Throw the ball on Feb 13, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

No.

I just spent ten minutes typing that to exercise my fingers.

Of course, you, on the other hand, are still advertising Palmer for Comeback Player of the Year in your sig, despite him going 13-16 TD-Int and the only reason he needed to “Come Back” was because he pussied his way out of the league.

by Skyhook on Feb 13, 2012 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

His history notwithstanding, he quit on the field which says a lot about who he is now and who he may be, not necessarily who he was. That is the type of personality we don’t need on this team. Nicks however, would be a brilliant move.

by Jcon77 on Feb 13, 2012 12:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I’m still not convinced he fully quit.

I’ll agree with you that his attitude in that one year wasn’t what you want from a player. But Vick was horrible, Young was worse and Kafka was mediocre. Jackson “quit” and still managed to be the top receiver on that team. It’s not like Jeremy Maclin was catching 1700 yards. That whole team was as dysfunctional as they come, to lay the entire problem at Jackson’s feet is wrong.

It’s a question of risk. You obviously don’t want 2011 Jackson, so the question is what’s the risk you’re willing to take and get the early Jackson? You take him, you pay him a reasonable salary, you make him feel wanted, you coach the hell out of him. And my gut tells me he’d be in the fight for Offensive Player of the Year.

Not every player who has a bad year is done. Not every player who makes a mistake is going to repeat it. Jackson feels like a risk worth taking.

by Skyhook on Feb 13, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions