The Philadelphia Eagles announced Friday they are penalizing wide receiver DeSean Jackson for conduct detrimental to the team. The decision stemmed from anti-Semitic comments Jackson made earlier this week.
The team did not reveal the penalties.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) July 10, 2020
Jackson will remain on the Eagles’ roster.
Former Eagle DB and current New Orleans Saint Malcolm Jenkins weighed in via Instagram. The safety and team leader of the past six seasons called the back and forth that resulted from the initial posts and Jackson’s subsequent apologies “a distraction,” and called for focus on the biggest issues at hand concerning the Black Lives Matter movement:
We can honor the Jewish heritage and trauma while staying focused on what matters. Jewish people aren’t our problem, and we aren’t their problem. Let’s not lose focus on what the problem truly is, and that’s that black lives still don’t matter in this country.
Push this energy toward arresting and convicting the killers of Breonna Taylor and burning systemic racism to the ground. ✊🏿
Meanwhile, another current Eagle, defensive lineman Malik Jackson thrust himself into the situation with a comment sent in response to another user and has been deleted, said the following (via screengrab from @PHLEaglesNation):
“The honorable Farrakhan is nothing like that vile scum Hitler. He speaks truth and believes in protection of self and and that scares ur (sic) racist (expletive).. 2nd (Jackson) did not quote anyone he took a PICTURE (of) a book that was to invoke thought and conversation.”
The former president of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2001-12, Joe Banner, who writes for TD Wire, had a strong response:
This is some serious ignorance https://t.co/4USunIccCW
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) July 10, 2020
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has a good idea that would be wise for everyone to practice:
I wish people would spread love like they spread hate and negativity
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) July 10, 2020