Originally posted by BornANole:
The Eagles could have traded him or just cut him without this stuff being discussed. Money cuts have happened all over the league. I cannot fathom a reason for the Eagles to make this up and for the usually very well informed ESPN to make a story of something that was not there. It's obvious that Desean's camp is in recovery mode so that he doesn't get stuck with a horrible contract on whoever picks him up.
Jackson's camp would be in the exact same recovery mode if this were a false assertion as it would be if this were true, for the reasons you state. That doesn't help anyone discern what is true. To think that there aren't some NFL players whose backgrounds include some gang members from their growing up days, and who still engage with their crowd would be somewhat naive. To think that means the NFL guy is involved in criminal activity that the some of members of the gang are involved in is stretching things and is certainly is more in line with presuming guilt, even if just be association.
As to why the Eagles would make this up, if they wanted him gone and they weren't getting trade offers that fit the financial needs they have contract and cap wise, as they have apparently not gotten anything good enough for them to pull the trigger during the time they were shopping him, why can't this be their preemptive publicity strike so their fans don't turn on them for letting him go. It's pretty clear they don't want him, their fans need a better reason than they just don't want him even if they traded him. This story, true or not, gets the eagles off the hook.
I don't know the answers, don't think any of us do, but to assume the Eagles action is transparent and completely well intended is as naive as thinking Jackson never associates with any of his buddies that are in the gang.
Heard an interesting thing from Chris Carter on this, and he has more insight than I do certainly. He said, gangs protect their "alumni" that have made it big, proud of and glad one of them is on the big stage, and would not want him involved in anything criminal [even while they may be fine with it] as a means of keeping their guy in the limelight.
