I'm sorry, but Chip and this front office do indeed need to explain this

[Eagle In Ohio]

And yes they DO owe the fans an explanation. This organization made the decision to rally behind and support Michael Vick, and they decided to rally behind and support Riley Cooper, even going as far to give Cooper a brand new 25 million dollar contract. Right now, they haven't shown anyone any kind of concrete evidence that DeSean Jackson was involved in any kind of gang activity. You can't just make a move like this and think that you can go on without explaining to your paying fanbase. Here's another angle I thought about that explains my reasoning. What about the teams Black fans ? This could be viewed as a move by a team that's willing to protect and give a pay raise to a white player who so willingly spews out the word nigger, but then cuts a black payer because they THINK he might be affiliated with gangs. They need to come out and explain this. Sooner rather than later. Chip can't sit around with this "I don't owe anyone anything" attitude, it should be addressed.

[PackWest]

Maybe

But what if the Eagles coming clean involves some very serious allegations ( proven or not) that would be damaging to Djax future ?
OR maybe it paints the organization in a less than flattering light ?

No matter what the F.O. says, many fans will never swallow what they are selling. This move will be debated on this board for the next decade regardless of what the FO says or doesn't say.

In other words, there's little chance you'll get closure or satisfaction so stop waiting for it. You'll get nothing and like it :D

[Big Little]

I don't think it's a black and/or white thing

They didn't resign Vick, Chip had to keep him on the team last year

They resigned Mac and he's black so that's out

I agree the Cooper resigning sends mixed signals

I see this as a locker room move and we have no idea how much of a distraction Jax was

I don't like the move because no one player forces a defense to gameplan for them like Jax

[Dan Drives a Van]

I agree with all of that. The double-standard is a little troublesome.

However, I think it might actually be a little better for them to wait until after DeSean signs his next contracts before disclosing anything major. If they were to come out and explain why they cut him before he gets his next contract, that would be an undeniable act of smearing his name, and possibly worth legal action.

I'm really hoping that's their motivation in not explaining themselves further just yet. Otherwise it comes off as them letting the nj.com do their explaining for them, which even if it's not part of an actual smear campaign, has the same effect.

Either way, the organization needs to play this right if they want to avoid coming out of this looking pretty bad.

[IronEagle]

And yes they DO owe the fans an explanation. This organization made the decision to rally behind and support Michael Vick, and they decided to rally behind and support Riley Cooper, even going as far to give Cooper a brand new 25 million dollar contract. Right now, they haven't shown anyone any kind of concrete evidence that DeSean Jackson was involved in any kind of gang activity. You can't just make a move like this and think that you can go on without explaining to your paying fanbase. Here's another angle I thought about that explains my reasoning. What about the teams Black fans ? This could be viewed as a move by a team that's willing to protect and give a pay raise to a white player who so willingly spews out the word nigger, but then cuts a black payer because they THINK he might be affiliated with gangs. They need to come out and explain this. Sooner rather than later. Chip can't sit around with this "I don't owe anyone anything" attitude, it should be addressed.

I agree with you but when you look at the stands at the Linc, very few of the fans are African American. If you compare the percentage of African Americans in Philadelphia and the surrounding area to those at the stadium you will find a major discrepancy.

I disagree with it but I believe that basically you aren't the market Lurie and Co. are catering to.

[Eagle In Ohio]

If there are allegations that come out about DJax

Maybe

But what if the Eagles coming clean involves some very serious allegations ( proven or not) that would be damaging to Djax future ?
OR maybe it paints the organization in a less than flattering light ?

No matter what the F.O. says, many fans will never swallow what they are selling. This move will be debated on this board for the next decade regardless of what the FO says or doesn't say.

In other words, there's little chance you'll get closure or satisfaction so stop waiting for it. You'll get nothing and like it :D

That would be damaging to DeSean's future, but they're TRUE, then that's a problem that DeSean will have to worry about, and maybe he'll think twice about the company he keeps. I don't even really think it's about closure, but the people who buy the tickets and support the franchise should at least be told why the team is making a move that could produce a product that is significantly less than what is was last season as far as being effective is concerned. Plus, most of the fans are emotionally invested in this team for years. I have been since 1988, and a whole lot of folks have been for a lot longer. Our common thread is wanting to see our team hoist that trophy at the end of the season. The Eagles have just made a move that could make hat goal a lot harder, thus extending the wait. I'm sure a good deal of the e fans want to know why they are deciding to do that.

[Eagle In Ohio]

Man, that's kind of disheartening

I agree with you but when you look at the stands at the Linc, very few of the fans are African American. If you compare the percentage of African Americans in Philadelphia and the surrounding area to those at the stadium you will find a major discrepancy.

I disagree with it but I believe that basically you aren't the market Lurie and Co. are catering to.

Let me clarify for the record, I was all for them bringing back Riley Cooper. I think he definitely has a place in this offense. I just see this as a situation that needs an explanation just because of the lack of evidence that would support the gang allegations that are out there. Maybe when I come to the next gayte, I'll round up all of the Black fans and take a group picture for Lurie.

[TerpEagle]

Let me clarify for the record, I was all for them bringing back Riley Cooper. I think he definitely has a place in this offense. I just see this as a situation that needs an explanation just because of the lack of evidence that would support the gang allegations that are out there. Maybe when I come to the next gayte, I'll round up all of the Black fans and take a group picture for Lurie.

Cooper, as far as we know, had one incident that was troubling. He apologized and he's not shown any other reason that he's a problem in the locker room, on the field, off the field, etc. If Cooper had a history or even more than one occurrence of being a distraction your comparison would be stronger but right now it's comparing apples to oranges.

Jackson has a history that no reasonable person will deny with regard to attitude, selfishness, etc. The gang-implications aside, a drunk racial slur does not necessarily equate the same ongoing locker room problems that have been rumored about Jackson. That's not saying the slur was ok or is to be ignored. But ongoing behavior is always more problematic than a single occurrence.

Jackson also makes much more than Cooper. How much additional value does/did he bring to the Eagles for twice the price, more than twice the headache and production that in Kelly's mind may be fairly easy to replace?

[Dan Drives a Van]

Jackson has a history that no reasonable person will deny with regard to attitude, selfishness, etc. The gang-implications aside, a drunk racial slur does not necessarily equate the same ongoing locker room problems that have been rumored about Jackson. That's not saying the slur was ok or is to be ignored. But ongoing behavior is always more problematic than a single occurrence.

I hate to re-open an an old issue, but I think the situation is a little more comparable than people would like to admit.

The racial slur was one component to truly epic display of bad judgement. Cooper showed up at the Linc (his own workplace), decided to get blackout drunk, berated an employee of the Linc (his own workplace), and afterwards got on stage with Kenny Chesney. My father was actually at that concert, and said Cooper and other Eagles were visibly intoxicated while onstage.

In the aftermath, a lot of Eagles players admitted that Cooper routinely got out of control when he drank, and yet Kelce (a purported team leader) thought it would be okay to accompany him on his all-day drunk (again, in his own workplace). Cooper never admitted any problem with alcohol and has sought no treatment.

If a pattern of bad behavior poorly representing the team is the issue, then Cooper falls into that category. If poorly choosing the people you surround yourself with is the issue, I would argue that Kelce could possibly fall into that category as well.

Kelce and Cooper got new contracts, and DeSean got his walking papers.

I wanna support Chip, but he needs to be careful with this.

[IronEagle]

I hate to re-open an an old issue, but I think the situation is a little more comparable than people would like to admit.

The racial slur was one component to truly epic display of bad judgement. Cooper showed up at the Linc (his own workplace), decided to get blackout drunk, berated an employee of the Linc (his own workplace), and afterwards got on stage with Kenny Chesney. My father was actually at that concert, and said Cooper and other Eagles were visibly intoxicated while onstage.

In the aftermath, a lot of Eagles players admitted that Cooper routinely got out of control when he drank, and yet Kelce (a purported team leader) thought it would be okay to accompany him on his all-day drunk (again, in his own workplace). Cooper never admitted any problem with alcohol and has sought no treatment.

If a pattern of bad behavior poorly representing the team is the issue, then Cooper falls into that category. If poorly choosing the people you surround yourself with is the issue, I would argue that Kelce could possibly fall into that category as well.

Kelce and Cooper got new contracts, and DeSean got his walking papers.

I wanna support Chip, but he needs to be careful with this.

Interesting.

[J_Cuz31]

I wanna support Chip, but he needs to be careful with this.

Put simply, Chip doesn't like Desean and doesn't want him on his team.

Think what you will of that But let's be clear, it doesn't absolve Roseman of failing to get compensation for a valued asset and electing to smear his player instead.

[TerpEagle]

I hate to re-open an an old issue, but I think the situation is a little more comparable than people would like to admit.

The racial slur was one component to truly epic display of bad judgement. Cooper showed up at the Linc (his own workplace), decided to get blackout drunk, berated an employee of the Linc (his own workplace), and afterwards got on stage with Kenny Chesney. My father was actually at that concert, and said Cooper and other Eagles were visibly intoxicated while onstage.

In the aftermath, a lot of Eagles players admitted that Cooper routinely got out of control when he drank, and yet Kelce (a purported team leader) thought it would be okay to accompany him on his all-day drunk (again, in his own workplace). Cooper never admitted any problem with alcohol and has sought no treatment.

If a pattern of bad behavior poorly representing the team is the issue, then Cooper falls into that category. If poorly choosing the people you surround yourself with is the issue, I would argue that Kelce could possibly fall into that category as well.

Kelce and Cooper got new contracts, and DeSean got his walking papers.

I wanna support Chip, but he needs to be careful with this.

That's a fair point but outside of the comparison for either player. I

t doesn't address behavior during the 2013 season or behavior in the locker room which is where I think Kelly has more of an issue. Like I said, I was discounting the gang related aspect and in the comparison. The difference is value and how the player is affecting the team.

[CCPete]

The league is loaded with players...black and white....who made bad decisions regarding their behavior, associations, locker room distractions, selfishness, and out and out criminal activities.(domestic abuse, guns, DIUs, fights in bars at 3 in the morning, drugs). Coaches do the best they can with them but they do not just release them, Especially, the ones who are All Pro caliber. The Eagles just released an All Pro player for reasons un yet explained and got nothing in return.

Maybe there are legit reasons that remain a secret at this time but if another shoe doesn't drop and another team grabs Jackson, this was just a bad job by this organization.

[Dan Drives a Van]

Put simply, Chip doesn't like Desean and doesn't want him on his team.

I agree with you and TerpEagle. Chip thinks Cooper is helping him create his team culture, and DeSean is detracting from it. That's a coaches prerogative.

However, as Eagle in Ohio was saying, this organization needs to be careful when crafting the official narrative. A lot of the characterizations they fling at DeSean could be applied to guys they just decided were a big part of their core, and a part of their future. The only difference could be characterized as a racial/cultural one, which is not good for anybody.

[TerpEagle]

I agree with you and TerpEagle. Chip thinks Cooper is helping him create his team culture, and DeSean is detracting from it. That's a coaches prerogative.

However, as Eagle in Ohio was saying, this organization needs to be careful when crafting the official narrative. A lot of the characterizations they fling at DeSean could be applied to guys they just decided were a big part of their core, and a part of their future. The only difference could be characterized as a racial/cultural one, which is not good for anybody.

I don't think it's just that. I think Kelly just really values Jackson less than the fans do. I think he values Foles less than the fans do too.