DeSean Jackson calls allegations of gang ties ‘disrespectful,’ says he was hurt by Eagles release
By Jack Crosby
The Philadelphia Eagles released wide receiver DeSean Jackson last Friday, sending shockwaves through the NFL Free Agency universe, eventually seeing him land with the division rival Washington Redskins.
Jackson’s release came just hours after a report from NJ.com caused a stir, saying that the veteran wideout had alleged gang ties with some old friends out in California.
For the first time since his release, Jackson sat down with ESPN and Stephen A. Smith to address the whole situation and give his own version on some of the events that transpired.
On the gang tie allegations:
"“It was, from my point of view, very disrespectful,” Jackson said. “I don’t think it was right, straight up. The allegations, the things that were said in the article, were things from a long time ago that the club, the organization knew about.”"
In regards to how he felt after the Eagles let him go:
"“I was definitely hurt,” Jackson said. “It was a humbling experience. . . . But it’s a business. It’s the NFL.”"
We’ll probably never know the whole story about what happened between Jackson and the Eagles, as Friday morning there was a report from CBS Philly from some anonymous former teammates of Jackson who claimed that he was the entire problem.
Nonetheless, soon it’ll be time to put all this on the back burner and get to the action on the field which, considering who he plays for now, will make for must-see TV twice a year.