Tag: DeSean Jackson

Every season-opening game for Eagles since 2010

With Philadelphia heading to New England to face the Patriots on Sunday, we look back at every season opener for the #Eagles since 2010.

Detroit defeated Kansas City and the NFL’s opening matchup, and it’s officially game week for the Eagles and 29 other teams around the NFL.

Philadelphia will hit the road for a matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, and it’ll be a celebration of retired quarterback, Tom Brady.

Over the years, the Eagles have had great success in Week One, and a strong start on Sunday could again catapult the team to postseason success in late January.

With preparation for New England underway, here’s a recap of every season opener since 2010.

Jameis Winston shares flattering comparisons for Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed

Jameis Winston shared flattering comparisons for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, highlighting traits they share with his former Pro Bowler teammates | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints offense will be leaning on two young receivers coming off of impressive rookie seasons. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed were fun to watch last year, but Saints quarterback Jameis Winston recently gave them some favorable comparisons that would excite any Saints fan.

Winston shared lofty comparisons for the pair of playmakers after Thursday’s training camp practice: “I’ve had some great young receivers in my career, one of them being Chris Godwin, they’re in that category and striving to be better. (They have) electric speed, strong hands, lateral quickness and length. That’s one thing they have, length, they’re 6-foot-0 or 6-foot-1 but they’re long. Both of them remind me of DeSean Jackson they way that they attack the ball and get behind the defense.”

Godwin (averaging 944 receiving yards per season) and Jackson (who has 11,263 career receiving yards) are two of the best receivers that Winston has gotten to work with in their career and would be great outcomes for the Saints weapons. Godwin and Jackson have both been named to All-Pro teams and Pro Bowls, while being some of the most exciting options around the league.

Olave had a much more productive rookie season than either receiver listed and Shaheed was actually comparable given how many games he played last year. Shaheed averaged 40.7 yards per game while Godwin averaged 32.8 in his own rookie debut. Most people would expect Olave to repeat his performance, given where he was drafted, but comparisons like this could be great for Shaheed’s confidence and in convincing people outside of New Orleans to take him seriously.

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Former Washington wide receiver DeSean Jackson hints at retirement in social media post

Jackson was outstanding in his three Washington seasons.

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Remember when the then-Washington Redskins signed wide receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency in 2014 after the Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly released him?

Hopes were high for Washington that season, despite a miserable 2013 season. New head coach Jay Gruden was hired to fix quarterback Robert Griffin III, and Jackson was coming to a team with Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed.

Jackson would play three seasons for Washington, recording 142 receptions for 2,702 yards, 14 touchdowns and averaged 19 yards per catch. Now, at the age of 36, could Jackson finally be calling it a career?

In an Instagram post recently, Jackson hinted at a possible retirement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuvkUpDL2ts/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Let’s look back at Jackson’s time in Washington a little more closely.

As a team, Washington wasn’t very good in 2014, but Jackson was far from another of owner Dan Snyder’s free-agent busts. In his first season with the burgundy and gold, Jackson caught 56 passes for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns. His 20.9 yards per reception led the NFL in 2014.

Jackson battled injuries in 2015 but still caught four touchdowns and averaged 17.9 yards per catch in a year where Washington won the NFC East. In his final season with Washington, Jackson caught 56 passes for 1,0005 yards and four touchdowns. He again led the NFL in yards per reception at 17.9.

After that season, Jackson spoke of wanting to remain in Washington but signed a three-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson played two seasons with the Bucs before he was traded back to Philadelphia. He played two more seasons in Philadelphia before he was released in 2021.

He signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he appeared in seven games, and was released. The Las Vegas Raiders signed him, and he played in nine games. Jackson spent part of the 2022 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Jackson was a second-round pick of the Eagles back in 2008. He torched Washington for years before becoming an Eagle-killer in his three seasons in the burgundy and gold. If he indeed retires, Jackson played 15 NFL seasons and caught 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns. For his career, Jackson averaged 17.6 yards per catch.

Additionally, Jackson was a phenomenal punt returner when he was used in that capacity, returning for four touchdowns.

Jackson is one of the best deep-ball receivers of any era — and certainly the best of his era. The biggest compliment one can pay Jackson was that he was the receiver who kept defensive coordinators up at night, scheming ways to stop him.

There’s absolutely a case for him to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — whenever he decides to leave the game.

 

Where DeSean Jackson stands in Eagles’ record books after hinting at retirement

We’re looking at where DeSean Jackson stands in the Philadelphia Eagles record books after hinting at retirement

DeSean Jackson has talked about retiring as a member of the Eagles, and although he hasn’t made any formal announcements, it appears the speedy wide receiver is set to call it a career.

https://instagram.com/p/CuvkUpDL2ts/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In a recent Instagram post, the former Cal Bears star and Philadelphia’s 2008 second-round pick hinted at “doing things his way” during his fifteen-year career.

If Jackson truly is retiring, he’ll leave the NFL as one of the most explosive players in league and Eagles’ franchise history.

With the prior rumors to seem real, here’s a look at D-Jax’s career marks in Philadelphia and where he ranks all-time in franchise history.

You have $15, build the best offensive unit in Eagles’ history

Can you build the greatest Philadelphia offense of all time? With a $15 budget, try to assemble the best QB, WR, RB, TE combination in Eagles history

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Philadelphia has had some all-time great offensive players, but what five players at multiple positions could give fans a dynamic unit on offense?

The Bird’s official Twitter account created a frenzy when they asked fans to build the ultimate roster.

The goal is to create the ultimate Eagles offensive unit with a $15 budget. Your team must consist of a quarterback, two wide receivers, a running back, and a tight end or fullback.

Which trio of Eagles’ greats would you pick to build an all-time wide receiver core?

Philadelphia has had some elite pass catchers over the years and the Eagles twitter page is asking fans to pick a core group of three franchise greats to make the ultimate trio

Since its inception in 1933, Philadelphia has had some top pass catchers in the sport’s history.

Two of the 11 Hall of Famers linked to the franchise were wide receivers.

It could be challenging to determine who was the best.

Still, the Eagles official Twitter page asked the question on Saturday, looking to make an all-time trio made of some of the top players in franchise history.

We looked at 13 all-time greats, including two that have joined the franchise within the past two years.

Another time the Commanders owner intruded into the NFL draft

Vinny Cerrato checks in with his draft stories involving Dan Snyder.

Grant and Danny hosted former Washington player personnel director Vinny Cerrato last Friday.

Cerrato told a story of how Washington owner Daniel Snyder again intruded into the draft, demanding Cerrato to draft a certain player.

The setting was the 2008 NFL draft. Joe Gibbs had retired following the 2007 season playoff loss at Seattle. Snyder for some very bizarre reason, hired Jim Zorn to be the offensive coordinator before there was a head coach. This meant the new head coach would not even be permitted to hire his own offensive coordinator.

Consequently, Snyder had extreme difficulty finding anyone to take the head coaching job. So, embarrassingly, Snyder then made Zorn the head coach, though he had yet to be a coordinator in the NFL.

When the 2008 draft came, Cerrato traded out of the first round, giving the Redskins three second-round selections. At No. 34, he took Michigan State wide receiver, Devin Thomas.

Snyder then inquired to Cerrato whom he was going to select. Washington held the No. 48 and 51 selections. Cerrato told Grant and Danny that on that day he conveyed to Snyder he was wanting to draft Jamaal Charles a running back out of Texas.

However, Snyder, according to Cerrato, wanted receivers for Jim Zorn’s offense, voiced for Cerrato to take Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. Cerrato says he disagreed and again said he wanted to take Charles.

What was missing in Cerrato’s version of the story is that Washington actually had another selection where Cerrato took USC tight end Fred Davis at No. 48.

Once again Cerrato said Snyder insisted the No. 51 selection be Kelly. So Cerrato surrendered and chose Kelly. Wouldn’t you know it? Kelly was already battling a knee issue, only caught 28 passes for his brief career, and never caught a touchdown pass.

Charles on the other hand was chosen by the Chiefs in the third round at the No. 73 selection. He provided the Chiefs 9 NFL seasons rushing for 7,260 yards, 43 rushing touchdowns averaging a HUGE 5.5 yards per carry.

But hey, Cerrato knows he is not clear from blame for the poor 2008 Washington draft. Thomas only caught 3 touchdown passes and 43 receptions overall in his unspectacular career. Davis had two good seasons (2009, 2011) before his career went south. He caught 162 passes, 13 for touchdowns.

Thomas had been chosen at No. 34 while Jordy Nelson (36th) and Matt Forte (44th) would have both been much better additions to the Washington offense.

Even more frustrating, DeSean Jackson was taken by the Eagles at 49, and Calais Campbell by the Cardinals the very next two picks after Cerrato took Davis at 48.

Oh well, this is the legacy of Daniel Snyder, the people he hired, and how he intruded into football matters.

Ranking the best 2nd-round picks in Eagles’ franchise history

We’re looking at the best 2nd round pick in Philadelphia Eagles franchise history ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The NFL draft is just two weeks away, and with Philadelphia set to have two first-round picks, GM Howie Roseman will look to add weapons to a retooled and battered defense.

In the second round, the Eagles will have pick No. 62 overall, and they can land a Pro Bowl-caliber player at that position, with Philadelphia finding past success in rounds two and beyond.

With the draft fast approaching, here’s an early ranking of Philadelphia’s best 2nd-round picks in franchise history.

Philadelphia Eagles history with the NFL franchise tag

With 18 pending free agents and several key players looking for big money, we’re taking a look at the Philadelphia Eagles’ history with the NFL franchise tag

The moment the Chiefs Super Bowl parade was completed, the NFL world started to completely focus on 2023 and the important offseason that awaits.

As teams around the league prepare for the NFL scouting combine, the franchise-tag window opened up on Tuesday and closes on March 7.

Any unrestricted free agent not tagged in that period will be able to sign with any suitor when the new league year and free agency opens on March 15. (The negotiating period, when teams can reach out to agents of potential free agents to start talks, begins March 13.)

Eight players were tagged last year, with four including receiver Davante Adams, signing long-term extensions.

Adams was traded from the Packers to the Raiders.

Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz, Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki all played the 2022 season on the tag.

With the salary cap soaring to $224.8 million in 2023, teams will have plenty of money, but Philadelphia will have key decisions to make on a handful of critical contributors.

With the new league year fast approaching and Javon Hargrave or C.J. Gardner-Johnson likely candidates for the designation, we’re taking a look at the Eagles’ history with the franchise tag.

Ravens 2022 season-in-review: Wide receivers

We look at the play of the Ravens’ wide receivers in 2022

The Baltimore Ravens moved their top receiver in Marquise Brown in a draft day trade before the 2022 season, and felt the aftershocks of their decision all year long. Despite trusting their young players at the position, Baltimore never quite recovered Brown’s production from any of their wideouts this season and has a clear need for a legitimate number-one option heading into the offseason.

Their most productive receiver this year was former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Demarcus Robinson, who led the Ravens at the position with 458 yards and two touchdowns. Third-year speedster Devin Duvernay was selected to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist, but also took steps as a pass catcher, hauling in 37 passes for 407 yards on the year. Behind him, no other Ravens receiver eclipsed the 300-yard mark in 2022, including veterans Sammy Watkins and DeSean Jackson who combined for less than 275 yards between them.

Second-year wideout Rashod Bateman seemed primed to put together a promising performance after a fast start, but saw his season cut short due to a foot injury. Though he only played in six games, Bateman managed to end the year with 285 yards on 15 catches, which was good for Baltimore’s highest mark for yards per reception at 19.0.

The last three Ravens receivers to see the field in 2022 made a minimal impact for the team. James Proche II and Tylan Wallace combined for 12 catches and 95 yards in the campaign, and Andy Isabella, who appeared in limited fashion as a practice squad call-up, did not register a catch.

All in all, this group will need to improve in 2023 to give Baltimore’s quarterback viable targets downfield. If Lamar Jackson returns to the Ravens on a long term deal, efforts should start in earnest to get the necessary talent around him to compete at a high level in the loaded AFC.