DeSean Jackson Injury: Eagles Should Think Twice Before Splashing Cash on WR

The Philadelphia Eagles haven't paid DeSean Jackson yet. Their exact reasoning is unknown, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

As this season, Jackson's fourth in the league, continues to push towards the postseason, it is becoming more and more evident why the Eagles shouldn't pay this man.

We'll start with Michael Vick. The Eagles just shelled out a $100 million contract to a guy who's a) had a $100 million contract before, b) injury prone and c) never been to back-to-back postseasons.

How one season a elite football overcompensates for the all the negatives that will always surround Vick is still mind-boggling to me. But this isn't about Vick.

Jackson's new contract wouldn't be for that type of money, but he wants to be paid like the type of player he believes he is: a playmaking diva.

We've seen Jackson do some incredible things on the football field. We've also seen him do some of the dumbest.

The past two weeks are prime examples of exactly what DeSean Jackson means to the Philadelphia Eagles.

He claims to have overslept for an entire meeting and was consequently deactivated for last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Philadelphia lost the game in the fourth quarter.

Last night in a must-win game against the division rival New York Giants (who will escape my wrath and not earn themselves a tangent although we all know they deserve it) Jackson came back with a wonderful Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-like performance.

He got behind the defense and made plays. He had a 50-yard reception from the shadow of his own goalpost brought back due to taunting. He took a punt return ... wait, what?

Indeed, Jackson taunted Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and the Giants sideline after beating cornerback Corey Webster deep down the right sideline.

And the Giants still punted to him (no tangent, there is no tangent coming) and he made up for his stupidity by putting the Eagles back in scoring position.

When all was said and done, the Eagles held on and kept what little hope they have a playoff berth still alive.

With Jackson on the field, the Eagles were finally able to walk out of a stadium with a fourth quarter win. 

DeSean Jackson, however, walked out of the stadium in a walking boot.

There is no denying the Eagles are a better football team with DeSean Jackson on the field. However, he, like Michael Vick, has a tendency to find his way to the sideline far too often.

Whether it be ill-advised behavior or another injury, the Eagles are right to hold out on DeSean Jackson.

The injury isn't believed to be a problem and it shouldn't keep him from playing next week, but it serves as more of a reminder than anything.

He's proven to deliver in clutch situations, but he's also proven that he cannot be entirely trusted.

That sounds a lot like the investment they already made in Vick.

All the money and the decisions they've made thus far have led them to a 4-6 record.

Not paying DeSean Jackson is part of that. And as of right now, that is the best decision they've made.

Injury prone players with self-destructive on-field tendencies can not only cost a team a game, but they can cost a team a season.

Paying them is only enabling them. 

Until DeSean Jackson grows up and stays healthy, the checkbook in Philadelphia needs to remain closed.