We spent many hours wading through DeSean Jackson's unhappiness with his contract situation last summer. The Philadelphia Eagles wideout staged a very public training-camp holdout that failed to net a new deal.
Now running back LeSean McCoy is in the final year of his rookie contract, set to make $615,000 when he's arguably worth much more. Jackson has urged his teammate to steer clear of the path he took in 2011.
"I think it would be in his best interest to come" to offseason practices and camp, Jackson told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Looking back now it really hurt me more than I thought it helped me. Hopefully he saw everything I went through, and hopefully (agent) Drew (Rosenhaus) won't have him go through the same thing."
Jackson, also represented by Rosenhaus, ultimately inked a five-year, $47 million contract in March, but he believes the process was stunted by last summer's shenanigans.
"Them feeling like me holding out was more of a statement and trying to prove something," Jackson said. "I just hope he doesn't take it there with the team because the Eagles are a team you don't want to try force anything with them or strong-arm them, because you know (president) Joe Banner, (general manager) Howie Roseman, coach (Andy) Reid, they're not the easiest people to force to get things with."
You could argue Jackson's play was tinged. After what we saw in 2011, he isn't worth the deal he received and the team will be able to escape it without much trouble following the 2013 season. Deep threat aside, he's not a complete weapon in Philly's offense.
Shady is their workhorse, to the point where Reid admitted the back was used too heavily last season. He's only 23 years old and has plenty of football left. He likely won't need to fight as hard for a new deal.
"I know Howie and Drew have a good relationship, so they're working through things, and I think something positive will come out of that," Reid told the newspaper. "We sure like LeSean and would love to have him here."
