Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson Deserves to Be Greedy

DeSean Jackson is about to prove that despite the NFL lockout, the new and improved NFL preseason will have shades of old negotiation tricks. 

A new ten-year agreement is in place, and players are packing their bags as they travel to camp. Players and fans are absolutely giddy that the season will be saved.

Slowly but surely, the league will get back to business as usual. It seems the same goes for players that feel they are giving their employers one hell of a deal on their current contract.

The new agreement did not thwart the holdout. Every year, a player or two holds his team hostage as he refuses to report to camp until a new deal is worked out.

In year's past, that tactic was met with rolling eyes and long frustrated sighs from fans. This year will be different. We are about to see some very incensed grenades lobbed, and they will be hitting DeSean Jackson.

Michael Vick reported to Philadelphia Eagles camp a day early, just like a good leader should. He took the time to speak a little on his number one target, DeSean Jackson. He told ESPN the following:

"

I spoke to DeSean yesterday, and we're trying to figure out what's going to happen," Vick. Hopefully he'll be here tomorrow. DeSean just has to think about it and has some decisions to make that only himself can make.

"

The decision that Vick is referring to is whether Jackson will hold out or not. The Eagles receiver is in the final year of his rookie contract. He will be tabbed to get a  base salary of $560,000. 

That may seem like a very good salary to make doing something you love, but it is pittance considering what Jackson is worth. 

According to the same report, Jackson averaged 22.5 yards per catch, the most of any player with a minimum of 45 catches. He also leads the NFL in yards per catch (18.3) and punt return yards (1,112) since he entered the NFL.

A two-time Pro Bowl player is worth a lot more than $560,000. You know, and I know it. Now for the great big elephant in the room that rears its head in this type of argument. 

I understand that DeSean Jackson signed a contract. Yes, he should abide by that agreement. But this is not a black and white issue. 

First off, we all sign a contract to work for a certain wage at our respective jobs. After sometime, we are all privy to some raises. If you feel like you have been going above and beyond, or happen to be driving the company a little more, you ask for a raise. It's American. 

Jackson was a second-round pick that is still working under that contract. He is well overdue for a raise. That time will come when he becomes a free agent next year, or if the team wants to sing him to an extension this year. 

Make no mistake though, Jackson is worth more than half a million right this second. The most important point in all of this is health. 

You could go into work tomorrow and ask for a raise. They could tell you, come back in a year and we will talk about it. Irate, you wait it out. 

Unless you work as a tackling dummy, you are not under threat of having your whole career end in a flash. More than that, the livelihood of an NFL star is a flash of light that lasts no more than five years. 

In two years, Jackson could quite possibly be a washed up receiver, or worse. The NFL is a special sport that deserves a special caveat from social mores about holdouts. 

Simply, there is no time to get what you are owed in the NFL. Before you know it, you are five years into the most popular sport in America and looking at retirement. By that time, you have had one contract renewal, and are hopefully healthy enough to be getting a second. 

There is no certainty that Jackson will indeed holdout. This may be an elaborate measuring stick to see where the Eagles are. It may be a gentle nudge to remind them that Jackson may hold out if contract discussions are not entered immediately. 

If he does holdout, I will be rolling my eyes with the rest of you. It is a knee-jerk reaction after all. on further thought, it is a necessary evil. 

If you only had a decade to get the most money out of your career, you would be doing some pretty petty things right now. 

DeSean Jackson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and it is time he gets paid as one.