Jackson’s antics to blame for release

Three-time NFL Pro Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson was released from his contract by the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday, just an hour after NJ.com published a new story that described the wide receiver’s supposed ties with gang members.

The story posted on the website stated that since 2010, Jackson has been tied to gang members involved in two homicides in Los Angeles, in 2010 and in 2012, respectively. NJ.com also discovered that Jackson was also arrested back in 2009 for possession of marijuana and having illegally tinted windows on his vehicle.

Since the announcement by the Eagles was made shortly after the story was published, the initial assumption was that Jackson was cut by the team for the gang connections but, just a few days later, clearer reasons on why he was released came out.

The release caught everybody off guard simply because Jackson was coming off a career season in which he set new highs with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and tied his career-best in touchdowns with nine.

His talents on the field have never been in doubt. But it is said that Jackson did cause a lot of headaches for management and coaches in his six years on the team, including his gang-associated background, which seemed to be the last straw for Philadelphia.

Jackson was interviewed by the Los Angeles Police Department concerning his connection with Theron Shakir, a member of the Crips gang, and also another friend who was involved in one of the two homicides.

The detective who interviewed Jackson in 2011 warned the Eagles of Jackson’s connections to gang members, but management decided to ignore the warning and just one year later signed the wide receiver to a five-year, $48.5 million contract extension.

Jackson was under the watch of police again in 2012 when the second homicide was found to have taken place in a building that was owned by a member of his family.

A lot of accusations have been thrown at Jackson, but to this day, no real evidence that he is indeed part of a gang or that he took part in any of the homicides has been found.

Sources close to the Eagles organization say that Jackson’s off-field behavior is what soured management: things like missed meetings, lack of collaboration with head coach Chip Kelly, and his negative influence on younger players by showing a poor work ethic repeatedly.

Over the last couple of years several red flags about Jackson were ignored by the Eagles until it finally exceeded their tolerance level. The team was desperate in trying to get rid of the wide receiver by trying to trade him for weeks prior to last Friday’s announcement.

Jackson’s free agency lasted only five days, as the Washington Redskins signed him Wednesday to a three-year contract that is worth $24 million, including $16 million in guaranteed money.

The Redskins offense is sure to improve with Jackson on the team, after ending last season with the worst record in the NFC (3-13). He will surely help quarterback Robert Griffin III in regaining stats similar to those that helped him capture the rookie-of-the-year award two seasons ago.

There is no doubt that Jackson is an elite player; his stats from last season back that up. He still has gas in the tank for another couple of good seasons, now as a Redskin. First-year head coach Jay Gruden now has the tricky task to keep the player focused on his career and it wouldn’t surprise anybody if Gruden had serious talks with him regarding his off-field activities at some point.

I judge an athlete based on his performances on the field. But, I do see why the Eagles made the decision of cutting Jackson. Having that type of player could hurt any organization’s image, and it is useless working with someone who isn’t willing to listen.

It just shows that no matter how talented a player is, there is more off the field that can hurt his career and reputation.