Tipsheet: DeSean Jackson debate continues

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Tipsheet: DeSean Jackson debate continues

BY JEFF GORDON | Posted: Friday, March 2, 2012 7:46 am

In the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams passed on DeSean Jackson to draft wide receiver Donnie Avery.

Those ultimately responsible for that decision would lose their jobs. In 60 games, Jackson has caught 230 passes for 4,096 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has also rushed for three touchdowns and brought four punts all the way back.

As for Avery . . . well, the injury-plagued speedster couldn’t even make the 2011 Rams, a team that featured a historically bad scoring offense.

Now many Rams fans wish their team could undo its mistake and somehow bring Jackson to St. Louis. That would require making a trade, since the Eagles slapped the dreaded “franchise tag” on this explosive weapon rather that let him reach free agency.

And the Eagles might be quite glad to move him, as it turns out.

The Rams football people had concerns about Jackson’s character when he entered the draft. Some of those concerns have come to light during his time in Philadelphia, creating some doubt about his long-range future there.

CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman addressed that topic:

“Several NFL sources said there is a debate within the Eagles hierarchy about whether or not the team can truly trust Jackson with a long-term deal. The Eagles, one league source explained, are also open to a trade for Jackson. In other words, the Eagles wouldn't mind if some sucker, er, team, took Jackson off their hands for a nice piece of draft compensation. To be clear the Eagles hope Jackson can clean up what at times has been a disgraceful act and can become a steady, productive member of the team. But there are doubts. And there should be doubts. Jackson has more than earned them.”

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Rich Hoffman explained why:

“The Eagles swear they still love DeSean Jackson, despite receiving production that has declined in the last two seasons, and punt-returning production that has declined in the last three seasons, and the small fact that he sulked on them in the middle of last season, was told not to come to one game after missing a meeting, was benched in the second half of another game, and later felt the need to apologize for his actions. You can decide if they are telling the truth about the love. I think Jackson is destined to break their hearts, but we are all just going to have to wait and see what is going to happen. The fact that the Eagles put the franchise tag on him yesterday does not change that. Love? To be determined.”

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... z1oFQI4w40