For DeSean Jackson, this was a season of growth. More as a person instead of a player.
Jackson let his desire for a contract extension hinder him this season, and for that hes sorry.
I can admit to certain things affecting me during the season. I just kind of want to apologize or whatever the case may be, Jackson said after the Eagles finished their lost season with a 34-10 rout of the Redskins (see story). I probably could have handled it a little different, but now sitting here after the seasons over, I can just say I was able to put it behind me and really just fight for my teammates. Fight for this organizationjust really knowing something good out of this situation was going to happen. I was able to finally get to that and just move forward. Well see how it plays out.
Will Jackson return for a fifth season with the Eagles? He hopes so.
I dont know if Im going to be here next year or not, he said. Its kind of out of my control, out of my powers. I hope that Ill be here. The guys on this team, the fans, its home for myself, so well see how it plays.
Would the franchise tag be OK?
Why wouldnt it? Jackson said.
NFL
Hey, itd be all right. Gods got a plan, brother. Im going to roll with it.
If only hed had that attitude back in August, the Eagles might have been playing Sunday for a playoff berth.
Jackson opened the final year of his rookie contractworth 600,000by holding out of training camp. Then in Week 9, he was benched for truancy and watched the Eagles offense falter without him in a dismal loss to Arizona.
In the previous weeks loss to Chicago, Jackson had just two receptions for 16 yards. The next week, Jackson had six catches for 88 yards to lift the shorthanded Eaglesthey were without Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclinto an upset of the Giants at the Meadowlands.
I shouldnt have allowed it to happen early onbut I was able to finish strong, and thats all that really matters, Jackson said. I did that. Ive got my head coach, my offensive coordinator, my teammates, the owners, the whole organization behind me, so its not how you start. Its how you finish.
Then its only fitting that Jackson finished with one of his patented bombs. This one was a 62-yarder for a touchdown, the Eagles longest TD catch of the season. It was Jacksons longest reception of the season and only his second of more than 60 yards. It was his first touchdown of more than 50 yards since the 65-yard miracle at the Meadowlands last season.
Remember two years ago, Jackson matched the NFL record with eight such scores. Those are the plays that will earn him an extension. And those are the plays that will be missing if hes gone.
"He's invaluable to this offense. First off, stretching the defense," Michael Vick said. "The things he does allow us to do a lot of different things."
Jackson is as valuable without the ball as he is with it. Last week against Dallas, he ran deep down the middle, took two Cowboys with him, and created room for Jeremy Maclin to make a 22-yard reception. He's a great clear-out route runner.
Hes a tremendous player, Maclin said. You cant deny his talent, obviously.
And can't deny that teams one cornerback alone can't cover him.
That might take the fear factor out of a lot corners that we play. Speed is scary, cornerback Joselio Hanson said when asked about the potential of Jackson's departure. He takes the top off the defense. You have to game plan for him. You cant play our offense straight up because of him.
Tight end Brent Celek wants him back for those reasonsand one more.
"I really think we need him. I hope he's back," Celek said. "And he's a good teammate. I like the guy."
Jackson finished the season with 961 yards receiving, a team-high, and four touchdowns. Both are his lowest totals since his rookie season. Still, Jackson became the fifth player in league history to surpass 900 yards receiving in each of his first four seasons, joining Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, Bob Hayes and Joey Galloway.
Im proud of him this last half how he battled through and did a good job, head coach Andy Reid said.
Thank special teams assistant Duce Staley, who as a running back had his own contract issues with the Eagles, with helping Jackson be a professional.
Hes been doing a great job of staying in my ear and just telling me: Dont mess it up, Jackson said.
Honestly its fighting a battle that you really cant control. At the end of the day, I play football. Thats what I do. Thats what my job is, he said. I cant really get frustrated over contract situations or if Im not paid how I think I should be. Whatever the case may be, I cant really allow that to go on as a professional.
But Im young still, so I went through what I went through, but I was able to shake myself out of it and come back to reality and just give it my all and play hard and do everything the right way. I think you can tell a lot about a person and his character to see how they finish, not how they start.
Does the same apply to the Eagles, who used a four-game win streak to finish 8-8?
Its a young team. I think the energy here is very exciting, said Jackson, who did make one request.
Hopefully we can get our home fans to not boo us. Thats hard when the home fans are booing us. Cmon man, this is our home stadium. Besides that, everything else is good man. Go Eagles.
E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com