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The DeSean Jackson move could wind up biting the Eagles in the backside

While I can understand the Philadelphia Eagles' concerns regarding DeSean Jackson's alleged ties to gang members, I have a hunch it was just a cop-out, and the team will pay a heavier price for letting him go - especially since he just signed with fellow NFC East foe Washington.

It had been rumored in the weeks preceding his release that the Eagles were listening to trade offers for the Pro Bowl wide receiver. Once this "report" came out about Jackson maintaining friendships with gang members, he was immediately released. The timing of it all seemed too impeccable to be true. I have a gut-feeling Jackson didn't get along too well with head coach Chip Kelly, so the team decided to do everything in their power to dispose of him.

Yes, while it's true that Jackson can be loud-mouthed at times, and may often times be demanding of more money, that's true of a number of star receivers in the league. Sometimes coaches have to sacrifice those minor annoyances for great production on the field.

With Philadelphia resigning receiver Jeremy Maclin, they would have had one of the top receiving corps in all of football. In addition to Maclin, they'd have Jackson, the improved Riley Cooper, along with tight end Brent Celek (not to mention do-everything back Darren Sproles). However, without Jackson in the lineup, and with the speedster being signed by Washington, the Eagles don't even have the top receiving corps in the division, let alone the league.

For the time being, Jeremy Maclin is the Philadelphia Eagles top receiver. While still young, Maclin has been hampered by injuries - as he missed all of the 2013 season and it was heavily debated whether or not the Eagles should resign the receiver due to his history of injury problems. For his career, though, Maclin has caught 258 passes for 3,453 yards (13.4 per), and 26 touchdowns in four (semi) full seasons with the team.

Due to Maclin's injury, Riley Cooper was forced into the #2 slot at receiver, behind DeSean Jackson last year. Although, he didn't produce much in his first three years with the team, Cooper stepped up his game a season ago - catching 47 passes for 835 yards (17.8 per) and 8 touchdowns. For his career, he's caught 93 passes for 1,514 yards (16.3 per), and 13 scores.

Neither Maclin nor Cooper possess the kind of speed Jackson does. While quarterback Nick Foles played exceptionally well last year from a statistical standpoint, he's still young, with several long-term question marks. One reason Foles was so successful last year was the speed of DeSean Jackson. Like Steve Smith in Carolina, an uber-quick vertical threat can make a quarterback's job a whole lot easier, and in turn, make him look a whole lot better than he would normally appear. With Maclin's health often times being a question mark, and both Riley Cooper and Nick Foles being young and unproven at this point in their careers, the passing game will be a much bigger question mark for the Eagles heading into the season than if they had held onto Jackson.

Compare that to the Washington Redskins, who just picked up Jackson. While Robert Griffin III had a bit of a sophomore slump a year ago, he was also coming off knee surgery, will be without a knee brace this season, and should put up better numbers than he did a year ago. Also, by signing DeSean Jackson, it's made his job a whole lot easier. Jackson now complements Pierre Garcon, who is coming off a career year last year - catching 113 passes for 1,346 yards (11.9 per), and 5 touchdowns. For his career, Garcon has now caught 345 passes for 4,498 yards (13.0 per), and 25 scores. He's very similar to Maclin with regard to size and speed, but unlike Maclin, who is coming off  a season where he didn't play a single regular season game due to injury and it's questionable whether or not he'll be able to become his old self again, Garcon is coming off his best season of his career to this point. Due to Jackson's presence, he should see fewer double-teams and more yards per catch as result.

As for Jackson, the guy caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards (16.2) and 9 touchdowns a year ago. For his career, he's caught 356 passes for 6,117 yards (17.2 per), and 32 scores. He's also added 373 rushing yards; 1,294 punt return yards; 29 kick return yards, and an additional 7 touchdowns. That's right - Jackson had just 14 fewer receiving yards than Garcon last year, on 31 fewer receptions.

DeSean Jackson is arguably the most explosive receiver in all of football, and one of the most explosive players in the game. By letting him go, the Eagles have lost a significant edge on the offensive side of the ball, and unfortunately for them, have allowed a division foe to become much more flexible and explosive. If Jackson gets into trouble with the law at some point in his career and winds up spending time in jail, then the Eagles can say, "You see? We told you so!" However, until that point, they're going to look pretty foolish - especially when they face their division rival Washington Redskins and an extra motivated DeSean Jackson twice a year.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MaclJe00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CoopRi00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GarcPi00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JackDe00.htm

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