Would the Eagles have had more leverage if they had kept Desean Jackson

[bobbyuk]

If they really wanted to be cutthroat, they could have released him the day before the regular season started--when most if not all teams have spent their money. As was mentioned by the media, they tried trading him last year and no one wanted to part with a draft pick for him.

[Greenstealth]

They gained nothing letting him go after the owners meetings. Cleveland has a ton of cap room, maybe the Eagles could have gotten a sweeter deal at 22 but we will never know because Howie shit the bed, I mean "releasing the player then was fair to the player". That's a joke, Howie's job is to do what's best for the team. Just handed him over for nothing and didn't even wait to see if something could materialize at the draft. I bet the browns would hate having djax and Watkins..

[CbEagle]

With what happened with the browns receiver they should have kept him through the draft, ypu could have gotten something done with the browns and all their picks. Hell even a 2015 pick would have been good.

[Greenstealth]

With what happened with the browns receiver they should have kept him through the draft, ypu could have gotten something done with the browns and all their picks. Hell even a 2015 pick would have been good.

Anything. Howie is a clown and it served no one aside from him not having to do his job and get the most he could for the team.

[art vandelay]

Agreed. But again why release him before the draft? What was the benefit?

Like I said if they released Jackson at that time so he could make the best deal possible that is commendable. but I don't see the Eagles as being that sort of organization.

My impression is Lurie will sacrifice money for what he perceives that which is a better goal, but when it comes to employees he is cutthroat.

I would assume to avoid the distraction. It would be annoying to have the Jackson story in the news every day for two months.

The Matthews pick kind of makes me believe what they said about "reconfiguring" the position. Maybe they felt that Jackson was very talented but fatally flawed and they just needed a different skillset in that position to get over the top.

[CbEagle]

Yeah, certainly not his finest hour.

[weizer]

This.

I would assume to avoid the distraction. It would be annoying to have the Jackson story in the news every day for two months.

The Matthews pick kind of makes me believe what they said about "reconfiguring" the position. Maybe they felt that Jackson was very talented but fatally flawed and they just needed a different skillset in that position to get over the top.

It was a distraction, and on top of that this had nothing to do with Howie Roseman like this Greenstealth clown wants all of you to believe. This was a Chip move, it had to do with team chemistry and the owner even signed off on it...

[weizer]

They may have telegraphed it

Why not wait to release Jackson until after the draft?

For example, with Jackson on the roster, maybe New Orleans doesn't think they have to move up to take Cooks.

If the Eagles wanted Cooks, that would be the exact way to play it.

Unfortunately I believe the Eagles FO telegraphed their intentions way ahead of time.

So what? Obviously Chip didn't like mejax or he would still be on the roster. They were trying to trade him before last offseason too, NOBODY WANTED THE CONTRACT for a me-first guy. I think it's a bold move that shows how good he thinks the team is to just let him walk free and sign with a division rival. They are a running team, the receivers need to be good blockers, replacing mejax with Matthews will actually help the running game even more as he is a far better blocker than mejax. They got Darren Sproles to fill mejax's role, once that happened it was time for the cut to just happen and end the speculation.

[IronEagle]

So what? Obviously Chip didn't like mejax or he would still be on the roster. They were trying to trade him before last offseason too, NOBODY WANTED THE CONTRACT for a me-first guy. I think it's a bold move that shows how good he thinks the team is to just let him walk free and sign with a division rival. They are a running team, the receivers need to be good blockers, replacing mejax with Matthews will actually help the running game even more as he is a far better blocker than mejax. They got Darren Sproles to fill mejax's role, once that happened it was time for the cut to just happen and end the speculation.

So what?

So maybe the Eagles could have drafted Cooks if they hadn't released Jackson for NOTHING. The for NOTHING part is important.

I get that you hate "mejax". You made it obvious by using that name many times in your post.

But the Eagles got NOTHING in return. Not even leverage during the draft. Some leverage is better than none.

They folded in advance.
As RSE stated, HowLo folded like a cheap Joe Banner suit.

[RSE]

That Washington is now a better team is just icing on the cake. The whole thing could not have worked out worse.

[IronEagle]

I would assume to avoid the distraction. It would be annoying to have the Jackson story in the news every day for two months.

The Matthews pick kind of makes me believe what they said about "reconfiguring" the position. Maybe they felt that Jackson was very talented but fatally flawed and they just needed a different skillset in that position to get over the top.

I can understand your point of view.

P.S. Best wishes for your studies in España. I hope to visit there again this winter.

[JDuggernaut]

It was a distraction, and on top of that this had nothing to do with Howie Roseman like this Greenstealth clown wants all of you to believe. This was a Chip move, it had to do with team chemistry and the owner even signed off on it...

It's gonna be an even bigger distraction in Week 3, and still a distraction when Philly goes to Washington. Distraction talk is overblown anyway. Guys get asked about a teammate rather than how they think they're personally coming along. I doubt players go home and seriously wonder about the distraction that is DeSean Jackson.

Bottom line is we should have tried to get something for him, even if it meant holding on to him until today

[weizer]

I don't hate mejax

So what?

So maybe the Eagles could have drafted Cooks if they hadn't released Jackson for NOTHING. The for NOTHING part is important.

I get that you hate "mejax". You made it obvious by using that name many times in your post.

But the Eagles got NOTHING in return. Not even leverage during the draft. Some leverage is better than none.

They folded in advance.
As RSE stated, HowLo folded like a cheap Joe Banner suit.

Just telling it how it is, there was a reason they dumped him for nothing...he didn't "fit" into Chip's type of player, he was forced to use him as a luxury last season...he wanted to trade him as soon as he got there remember? I am not making any of this up, I enjoyed watching mejax but you will see this year that Chip can make any receiver look good. The running game sets that up as long as you have Foles playing like he did last year all is well for everyone in this offense. I refuse to panic over 1 player, its childish and its not like you, I or anyone can change it. Chip likes bigger receivers that block well, just accept that and enjoy the running game that sets up the passing game. If we win games that's all that should matter.

[weizer]

How do you know they are a better team?

That Washington is now a better team is just icing on the cake. The whole thing could not have worked out worse.

Did you see RGknee last year, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barrel. Maybe their punt returns got more dangerous. Too much jumping the gun on here. Did TO make the cowgirls better? You got to have a qb that can get him the ball and not throw the ball to the other team, or get hurt.

[weizer]

???

It's gonna be an even bigger distraction in Week 3, and still a distraction when Philly goes to Washington. Distraction talk is overblown anyway. Guys get asked about a teammate rather than how they think they're personally coming along. I doubt players go home and seriously wonder about the distraction that is DeSean Jackson.

Bottom line is we should have tried to get something for him, even if it meant holding on to him until today

They did try, read previous posts and everywhere on the internet...they tried for 2 offseasons and nobody wanted to touch him.