Heard The Footsteps: Mo' Money

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2010/6/22/1530843/heard-the-footsteps-mo-money <--- Read the full column here

Like Charlie Sheen in the movie "Greed", NFL players are always looking for more money.  Like Charlie Sheen in real life, $1 million an episode is, according to Sheen, worthy for the actor who built up "Two and a Half.

 

Currently, the NFL is seeing plenty of young, rising stars demanding that their contracts be renegotiated in order to reflect their exceptional play.  Chris Johnson and Derrell Revis have recently (and publicly) shown major interest in receiving new deals that pay sums of cash  equivalent to the production they exhibited on the field in 2009.

DeSean Jackson has had rumors flying about his perceived want for a new contract.  Earlier this year, I wrote the following about the subject:

(The quote is in regards to the closest contract that the Eagles have given for a WR)

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Desean Jackson's agent is none other than Drew Rosenhaus. Remember that Rosenhaus attempted to renegotiate Terrell Owen's 7 year, $49 million contract.

I believe that Rosenhaus and Jackson will be asking for something well above those numbers, considering Owens was 31 when he signed that contract in 2004, whereas Jackson will be a mere 25 by the end of next season. Based upon age, Jackson has a significant cause for a larger contract than Owens.

Statistics, however, also play an important role in the process. Owens was already a seasoned veteran and was considered a top 5 WR in the league for years prior to his trade to the Eagles. Jackson had a very solid rookie season and this year exploded into the position of being a top WR in the NFL. Owens posted a statline of 77 receptions for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in the 14 games he started and played in 2004, prior to his injury against the Cowboys. That was Owen's 9th season in the league. Jackson, in just his second season, posted 62 receptions for 1,156 yards and 9 touchdowns. However, that statline does not include his 11 rushing attempts for 137 yards and 1 touchdown, nor does it include his punt return yards or 2 punt return touchdowns. Something else that must be pointed out is that Owens averaged 15.6 yards per reception , while Jackson averaged an amazing 18.6 yards per reception. Owens' year pales in comparison to Jackson's, especially when you factor in the fact that Jackson tied an NFL record for 50+ yard touchdowns in a season... in only his second year in the league. Jackson could be considered more dangerous than Owens ever was, already.

Based upon all those facts (I'm ignoring divaness because it's almost a push between the two), I think a deal around the likes of 8 years, $75 million dollars would be in order. It would lock up Jackson until he was 33 and would give him the money that top wide receivers in the NFL make, while also showing that the Eagles are paying him more than they did Owens back in 2004.

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Obviously the Eagles will not be paying anywhere near 8 years, $75 million for Jackson.  However, Jackson is deserving of a new contract... when the new CBA is signed by the NFL and the Players Union.  Something in the range of Owen's 2004 contract with the Eagles should be in order if Jackson has another great season in Midnight Green.  Jackson, in my mind, deserves the contract he is looking for over Chris Johnson.  I, like everyone else, believes Johnson to be the next big thing at running back.  But, a big BUT, no running back has had an equally good season after a 2,000 yard year.  Only Barry Sanders was able to recover to have a decent season (1,491 yards in 1998).  And for that reason, I'd agree with the Titans waiting to reward Johnson.  On the other hand, wide receivers typically don't have such success so early and then tail off.  Normally a good wide receiver stays a good wide receiver and I believe that Jackson is a good wide receiver.

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2010/6/22/1530843/heard-the-footsteps-mo-money <--- Read the full column here