DeSean Jackson: Why Philadelphia Eagles Should Let Troubled WR Fly in Offseason

Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver DeSean Jackson has conclusively shown that he no longer merits a roster spot on his current team.

Jackson's unwillingness to make peace with his team is a big piece to the puzzle that is the Eagles' 4-8 record, and he is making both head coach Andy Reid and general manager Howie Roseman look smarter by the second for not extending him a contract offer.

Not only has his production tapered off to the point of near-nonexistence, but his attitude both on and off the field has become malignant at best.  

If the Eagles want to start fresh next season in hopes of more success, they must first cut ties with Jackson.

On-Field Production

It doesn't take a professional analyst to break down film of the Philadelphia Eagles and notice that, for the majority of games this season, DeSean Jackson performs a disappearing act.

The numbers (43 catches, 698 yards, two touchdowns) will say that Jackson is on pace for a solid—if unspectacular—season.  What they don't show is how unreliable he is for stretches of games.

Over 350 of his yards and both of his touchdowns came in three games this season.  Which means that, for the remaining eight games, Jackson has totaled only 339 yards with no touchdowns.

The speedster from Cal has developed into the premier boom-or-bust player in the league, and this year it has been mostly bust with just a hint of boom.  For someone wanting a new contract, Jackson has far from earned it this year.

In fact, the only consistent thing about Jackson this year is his inconsistency. 

Character Issues

Forgetting the fact that DeSean Jackson has pulled a Houdini on the field this season, his attitude off the field is also cause for concern.

Against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, Jackson was seen lashing out at the media during a post-game interview in the locker room.  It is unseemly of Jackson to act like he did in front of the media, as it reflects poorly on both the league and his own team.

An attitude such as the one Jackson boasts is only a detriment to his team, and it is finally starting to outweigh his performance on the field.

The Eagles knew the character concerns that came with his blazing speed when they drafted Jackson.  It seems, however, that they have not figured out a way to reign in those flaws.

Lone Wolf Mentality

If there is one thing that DeSean Jackson has become known for, it is his lone wolf mentality that seems to crave the spot light.

While that is good for earning a spot on the highlight reels, it is also a huge detriment inside the locker room.

Many times this season, Jackson has hung his teammates out to dry by failing to put forth the effort on a particular play.  This was represented best against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, where Jackson played half-heartedly all game and failed to make plays on numerous balls thrown his way by quarterback Vince Young.  Cameras even saw Jackson tuning out Young, who was trying to talk to him on the sideline.

He cares more about protecting himself and earning more money in the offseason than actually helping out his team on plays where it matters most.

His lack of effort and self-serving mentality have put him at odds with many of his teammates, who have become increasingly more open about showing their disdain for the wide receiver.  

A team needs to act like just that: a team.  That means that the entire team must be unified in its goal of winning games, and it seems like Jackson has no desire to help his teammates reach that goal.

Thirteen weeks into the season and it is clear that Jackson is the biggest cancer on this team.

Falling out with Coaches

He has struck out with his teammates, and now it is clear the DeSean Jackson is striking out with his coaches.

Through his lack of willingness to cooperate and do the things expected of a good teammate and player, Jackson has earned himself both a one-game suspension and a benching this season.  These two incidents show that head coach Andy Reid is just about ready to call it quits on the former second-round pick.

Gone are the days of Jackson making a big play and then proceeding to run over to Reid for a chest bump.  These days, No. 10 is only putting frowns on the face of his head coach.

Absurd Demands

Add up all of the previous slides, and it can be surmised that DeSean Jackson is deserving of a slightly above-average contract at best. 

Apparently he doesn't think so.

Despite his lack of production and his poor attitude, Jackson still believes that he is worth the price tag of a top-10 wide receiver.  The Philadelphia Eagles would be out of their minds to pay him that kind of money.

Instead, it may just be best for the Eagles to rid themselves of Jackson and hope that he finds another team willing to put up with his antics.