DeSean Jackson: Benched WR Should Spurn Eagles for Greener Pastures

When a Dream Team fails to live up to its expectations, the aftermath is always a nightmare.

Andy Reid benched DeSean Jackson after the lighting-fast wide receiver dropped two touchdown passes in the Philadelphia Eagles' 38-20 loss to the New England Patriots.  The outcome officially eliminated the Eagles’ remaining playoff hopes and what occurred in the game itself will be a drama-setter.

Jackson is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.  He has pleaded for a contract extension since the lockout ended, but he’s been awarded no such offer.  After being benched against the Patriots, Jackson should bolt to another team.

In a disastrous season, blaming fingers should be pointing in countless directions.  Philadelphia’s linebacking corps is a joke, its defensive coordinator’s resume isn’t worthy of manning such a role and the offensive line couldn’t keep Michael Vick off the injury report.  While Jackson didn’t have the Pro Bowl-caliber season many expected him to have, his down year isn’t a key factor behind the Eagles' woes.

According to ESPN, Jackson admitted to performing poorly saying: “It wasn’t one of my best games as far as a couple of plays I could have had.  At the end of the day, I didn’t come up with any.  No excuses behind that.” 

Despite the huge drops, what did benching the Eagles’ most explosive offensive weapon accomplish?  As boos of “fire Andy” rained down onto Lincoln Financial Field, is it possible that head coach Andy Reid, in order to relieve himself of a chunk of the blame, sent his star wide receiver to the bench?

Instead of Jackson, Reid is the one that Philadelphia should part with this upcoming offseason.  While his tenure features regular-season highlights, his time in the City of Brotherly Love is headlined by postseason failure.  After allowing the Eagles to deteriorate with a lineup full of All-Pros, his time in Philly has run out.

Will Jeffrey Lurie fire him, though?  Probably not.  Reid has been with the franchise so long that, like Jeff Fisher’s exit in Tennessee, it will take a more than simply losing to trigger a firing. 

The former Cal Bear shouldn’t allow himself to be the scapegoat.  There isn’t a team in the entire NFL he couldn’t improve.

Jackson possesses the ability to be the difference on a Super Bowl contender.  With Reid running the circus in Philadelphia, the Eagles aren’t a true contender.  And finding a team that will pay him more than $600,000 should be effortless.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.  Follow him on Twitter.