Frustration might be DeSean’s Philly legacy
PHILADELPHIA >> Jay Gruden, the former head coach of the Washington Redskins, was asked if DeSean Jackson had to be targeted to strike fear into defenses. He coached the ultimate deep threat for three seasons. “No, he doesn’t,” Gruden said prior to the season opener. “But he has to be targeted if you want him to like you or not. I mean, hell, he can get pretty frustrated at times with me.”
The frustration has only begun for Jackson, who was basically sentenced to surgery for a core muscle injury by his team Monday. The Eagles put out a statement then explaining that Jackson would have surgery on the abdominal injury that has sidelined him for all but one complete game this season.
The carefully worded announcement was disseminated just hours after head coach Doug Pederson admitted Jackson didn’t want to have surgery for the injury immediately after sustaining it in the first month of the season, and the Eagles couldn’t force him to have it.
In other words, Jackson didn’t care for the Eagles’ recommendation he go under the knife and management isn’t happy he didn’t follow those instructions.
Unless Dr. Phil can get these sides together again, Part 2 of the Jackson era is winding toward its conclusion. I don’t see a happy ending here. Brace yourself for the insufferable way this matter gets handled with Pederson as the gobetween in the months to come.
The statement the Eagles distributed on Twitter was something only malpractice lawyers could follow without gagging. To wit:
“DeSean Jackson will undergo surgery this week on a core muscle injury. He originally suffered the injury on Sept. 15th against the Atlanta Falcons. Following the game in Atlanta, DeSean met with the Eagles and multiple independent specialists to determine the best course of action. After gathering all the necessary information, the decision was made to proceed non-operatively through rehabilitation. DeSean worked hard for six weeks to progress to a point where all parties were comfortable with him returning to practice, and then for him to play in the game yesterday against the Chicago Bears. DeSean experienced discomfort and was held out for precautionary reasons. After further testing and discussion this morning, it was determined that the best course of action for a full recovery is to proceed with surgery.”
The Eagles pressured Jackson to get back on the field Sunday, hoping he could work through the pain and give them a semblance of a deep threat. He practiced on a limited basis during the week. He even spoke with the media Friday for the first time in months. It was obvious by his answers he still was in pain and anything but thrilled about getting back into action before the bye, which is this week for the Eagles.
You can’t blame the Eagles for trying. For all of the NFL’s talk about player safety, there’s incredible pressure on players to play hurt. Earlier this season Pederson essentially challenged oft-injured cornerback Sidney Jones to fight through the mental hurdles. Jones since has been available for every game.
Jackson’s position is understandable as well. He felt in his consultations with doctors that the core injury would heal without surgery. He took the Eagles up on their offer to test it in practice and play Sunday against the Bears. Four plays into the comeback it
was over.
Pederson on Monday walked back the decision to play Jackson rather than hold him out essentially for another three weeks, including the bye. Makes sense if you believe the Eagles need DJax more in December and January than now.
“Sitting here today, you kind of go, ‘Alright, maybe you should have,’” Pederson said. “You’re second-guessing now and we can’t – we’re in a business where we have to play and we have to play with the guys who are in uniform. Again, he busted his tail to put himself in a position to help us yesterday and again he just felt that discomfort.”
Jackson put out his own statement Monday on his certified Twitter account. Some angry Eagles fans were on him.
Pardon the one edit for decency’s sake...
“I put all my passion into this (crap) I don’t care
if anyone ever doubt that !! Know I’ll come bac stronger than ever !! If you mad that’s understandable I’m more Angry than anybody but it’s GODS plan not mine !! Trust…”
Any day now the Eagles will put Jackson on injured reserve, ending his season and possibly his tour with the Eagles. It isn’t about who’s right or wrong. I don’t see how either side can totally trust the other.
If Jackson gets healthy, the Eagles could arrange to ship him and the rest of his three-year, $27 million contract somewhere out of sight and out of mind. The Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Chargers and the 2020 Las Vegas Raiders could be destinations. Jackson is a West Coast guy.
If this is the end, thank Jackson for myriad football memories he gave fans, including opening day of this season at the Linc. The Eagles were struggling against the Redskins until
Jackson beat them not once but twice for 50-plus scoring receptions.
The piece de resistance was the epic walk-off punt return that beat the New York Giants in 2010. It was dubbed the New Miracle of the Meadowlands. I asked Jackson why he ran parallel to the goal line reading the scoreboard clock until the last seconds drained.
“I was just making sure there was no time left for them to get a miracle on us,” Jackson said.
That’s how I’ll remember Jackson. It’s just too painful thinking about what could be his last play with the Eagles, a five-yard reception in a four-snap appearance against the Bears. Jackson couldn’t separate from his defender, something he did so effortlessly when healthy.