NFL News and Notes for April 2014!!!

I hope the Washington Football Team deal works out for them. Follow the team since I live in NVA. Personally don't have a good feeling about this one. Given up by Philadelphia even though he's been to the Pro Bowl 3 times in his young career. I think they are asking for trouble; they seem to make a lot of mistakes bringing in players; old players, overpaying, players with bad attitudes. No one yet with gang affiliation although there's a first time for everything.

The thing with DeSean Jackson is that there are four teams in the NFL that really know DeSean. The Eagles know him and cut him loose getting nothing in return. The KC Chiefs have Andy Reid and DeSean's old receiver coach in KC and they have a desperate need for a speed receiver and they passed. The Jets have Marty Mornhinweg (former Eagles' offensive coordinator) and Mike Vick and they passed. Vick arguably has more long-term baggage than DeSean, but they didn't want DeSean and they took on Vick. The Colts have Ryan Grigson as GM and he was a former front office guy in Philly and they passed. Eagles players aren't exactly mourning the passing of DeSean Jackson. Many seem to be quietly celebrating his release.

I've got a pretty good suspicion that this will be a very short marriage between DeSean and the Redskins. They've got a rookie coach, a very young offensive coordinator, a potentially fragile quarterback, and now they've added a major locker room distraction to the mix. DeSean's extremely talented, but there are tons of negatives. It's going to be an interesting year in Washington.

On 4/2/2014 gardenman said:

The thing with DeSean Jackson is that there are four teams in the NFL that really know DeSean. The Eagles know him and cut him loose getting nothing in return. The KC Chiefs have Andy Reid and DeSean's old receiver coach in KC and they have a desperate need for a speed receiver and they passed. The Jets have Marty Mornhinweg (former Eagles' offensive coordinator) and Mike Vick and they passed. Vick arguably has more long-term baggage than DeSean, but they didn't want DeSean and they took on Vick. The Colts have Ryan Grigson as GM and he was a former front office guy in Philly and they passed. Eagles players aren't exactly mourning the passing of DeSean Jackson. Many seem to be quietly celebrating his release.

I've got a pretty good suspicion that this will be a very short marriage between DeSean and the Redskins. They've got a rookie coach, a very young offensive coordinator, a potentially fragile quarterback, and now they've added a major locker room distraction to the mix. DeSean's extremely talented, but there are tons of negatives. It's going to be an interesting year in Washington.

Hey GARDEMAN, for just the reasons you mentioned that is why I was concerned. Tremendous talent yes...but with teammates on the field, and off the field and the other factors just give me cause to pause....There is dancing in the streets by many in Redskin Nation but I don't know....

It just takes me back when the Spurs got Dennis Rodman ....he still had something in his tank and always talked about playing with "the eye of the tiger".....he was a rebounding maniac....BUT he would have his temper tantrum with the coaches....in the middle of the game, he took his shoes off, which was a sign he didnt want to play any more, put a towel on his head and sat in the corner on the floor.....I remember in a Western Conference Finals game when Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson were mounting a comeback and we were closing in and all Dennis did was stand there on the floor refused to play (after the coaches had pulled him aside and told him something)..... we lost....(yep that's "playing with the eye of a tiger")...the fans loved him, but I was NOT impressed. So I've been leery of players with "issues" ever since.....and glad my Spurs no longer pursue that kind of player, but unfortunately the Redskins do, and took a chance so we will see how it all works out! I wonder if it will be a situation just like Albert Haynesworth...boy Dan Snyder doesnt mind throwing his money away.....Perhaps Ryan Clark and Hall will keep him in line, but where are the leaders on the OFFENSE....RGIII has his own problems coming back from a disappointing season and facing a make or break year......Santana Moss is a veteran but he is a quiet guy....Albert Morris is a great guy but a bit quiet too....Pierre Garcon perhaps....Will this be a disastrous Redskin error....or an error by the Eagles ....we will have to see...

SPURT. The Eagles did what they had to do. I think you'll find DeSean's tenure in Washington likely to be short-lived. He's already made noise about getting the number ten from RGIII which isn't the ideal way to move onto a new team. DeSean is DeSean. This isn't an issue with addiction (like with Chris Carter when the Eagles released him) where he can get treatment. The dude has an ego the size of California and wants to do things his way and won't tolerate criticism or correction. He's rebelled against every coach he's had. He fights coaches, teammates, opponents, everyone. He's a ticking time-bomb just waiting to go off.

The first time RGIII overthrows him, fails to see him when he's open, doesn't hit him on the hands with a pass, you'll see DeSean start to mope and complain. He'll run the wrong route and won't accept responsibility, he'll take plays off and loaf on a route while the quarterback is in danger of getting killed, he'll spend more time mouthing off to an opponent than listening to the quarterback, but he's always right in his own mind and everyone else is always wrong. He's not the easiest guy to have on a team. He's supremely talented, but he's got a ton of baggage with him. It's going to be fun to watch him in Washington.

On 4/3/2014 gardenman said:

SPURT. The Eagles did what they had to do. I think you'll find DeSean's tenure in Washington likely to be short-lived. He's already made noise about getting the number ten from RGIII which isn't the ideal way to move onto a new team. DeSean is DeSean. This isn't an issue with addiction (like with Chris Carter when the Eagles released him) where he can get treatment. The dude has an ego the size of California and wants to do things his way and won't tolerate criticism or correction. He's rebelled against every coach he's had. He fights coaches, teammates, opponents, everyone. He's a ticking time-bomb just waiting to go off.

The first time RGIII overthrows him, fails to see him when he's open, doesn't hit him on the hands with a pass, you'll see DeSean start to mope and complain. He'll run the wrong route and won't accept responsibility, he'll take plays off and loaf on a route while the quarterback is in danger of getting killed, he'll spend more time mouthing off to an opponent than listening to the quarterback, but he's always right in his own mind and everyone else is always wrong. He's not the easiest guy to have on a team. He's supremely talented, but he's got a ton of baggage with him. It's going to be fun to watch him in Washington.

And its begun....the ink hasn't dried on the contract and already controversy on who is wearing number 10....RGIII is reassuring fans he's keeping #10 and DeSean will have a new start with a new number.....(DeSean better chose another number....I have a #10 and Im not getting a new jersey)....

P.S. Redskin fan and NBA star Kevin Durant was said to encourage DeSean to go to the Redskins..... I hope my Spurs beat the Thunder tonight!

The Redskins who were down to about $1 million in cap space after signing DeSean Jackson have now spent the last of their cap dollars in signing quarterback Colt McCoy. I like Colt and think in the right system with the right assets, he could be a very good quarterback.

There's lots of local chatter now about the Eagles drafting Brandin Cooks the wide receiver from Oregon State to replace DeSean Jackson. I'm not sure the Eagles have that in mind though. When we picked up Damaris Johnson a couple of years ago he was to be the next DeSean Jackson and he showed some promise in his rookie year. Last year he largely disappeared in Chip Kelly's new system. I'm not sure what the team thinks of him now, but the fact that he's still on the roster implies they still like him some. I think Chip would love for Ifeanyi Momah to step up and grab some playing time. He's our 6' 7" 239 lb second year wide receiver who reportedly ran an official 4.40 forty yard dash and then ran a private 4.2-ish 40 at a private workout with the Eagles. If you can get a guy with that size and that speed on the field and running good routes, he's pretty much unstoppable. He was in camp with the Eagles last summer and was a bit overwhelmed and didn't show the level of skill and polish necessary to make the roster, but with another year of experience and a full off-season to get ready, I'm cautiously optimistic that he could step up and be a player.

I didn't know Dennis Rodman played for the Spurs. I heard that he kept getting into trouble with his attitude.

There is speculation--unproven since no one has admitted it--that if the Colts hadn't signed Hakeem Nicks, they might have been one of the teams interested in DeSean Jackson. That's probably because of the Grigson's tied to Philly. When DeSean was released, the Colts weren't about to sign him because they had Nicks and didn't need a WR. Some of the fans on the Colts forums were discussing DeSean going to Indy, but I don't think it would have happened anyway. At least I hope not.

Pierre Garcon is good, but he seems kind of quiet. I can't imagine him being a leader trying to keep DeSean Jackson in place.

I have a feeling that Jackson is going to try to get back at Philadelphia when the teams face each other. He's going to want to prove that they made a mistake releasing him. That's just my opinion; I'll have to see if it's correct.

Thank you for the news. Now I can skip the sports pages.

teganslaw. I can absolutely guarantee you that DeSean will be looking to make the Eagles pay for cutting him. I'm pretty sure we won't have to wait long to see those teams matched up. The NFL schedule makers will likely make the Redskins/Eagles game an early Sunday night/Monday night match-up. Chances are both of those games next year will be featured games.