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In a stunning move, the Philadelphia Eagles have released wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The Eagles made no secret that they were looking to trade the veteran receiver this offseason due to his $10 million base salary. When they were unable to find a trade partner, it appeared that the Eagles appeared ready to keep Jackson on the roster. Jackson is coming off his best year in the NFL, having 82 catches for 1,332 yards.
However, according to NJ.com there is a much darker reason for Philadelphia’s decision to release one of their best players. The website is reporting Jackson is associated with a Los Angeles gang and has frequently missed team meetings. Head coach Chip Kelly along with others fear Jackson has become a negative influence in the locker room and are worried for their younger players.
Jackson owns a record label, Jaccpot Records and one of the artists signed is Theron Shakir. In 2010 Shakir was charged with murder of 14-year-old Taburi Watson. While Shakir has been linked to the Crips, he was acquitted of the murder charge. When he was released from jail, Jackson and Shakir appeared in a photo together with Shakir still in his jail clothing. This was not the only gang-related murder police contacted Jackson about.
While incidents like this should be enough reason for any team to cut a player, it is hard to watch the Eagles declare what is right and wrong. This is the same team that gave fellow wide receiver Riley Cooper a five year contract worth $25 million. Cooper was caught ON VIDEO saying, “I will fight every n***er”. The Eagles said they sent him to “sensitivity training” and he received a heavy fine, but he was never suspended. It seems more like the Eagles were just waiting for a reasoning to drop Jackson and these “gang affiliations” gave them that reasoning.
