Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles not worried about facing DeSean Jackson

Chip Kelly made his first public comments since the Philadelphia Eagles released pro bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson earlier this season after reports circulated about his connection with gangs, but Kelly says it was a football decision and no teams proposed a trade offer for the receiver coming off a career-year.

Jackson carried a substantial salary with him which undoubtedly scared some teams away from offering anything of substance knowing the Eagles were prepared to release him where a team could get him without compensation other than his salary.

But the real surprise from Kelly is that the Eagles parted ways with Jackson for “purely football” reasons and not because of gang connections brought to light in an NJ.com article published prior to his release or because of a personality conflict with his star receiver.

Kelly didn’t seem too concerned about losing Jackson division rival Washington Redskins, saying they’ll be alright and he’s not worried about facing him twice a year.

The Eagles made it a point to say they are going to attack the wide receiver position differently this year, so could that mean the Eagles are targeting a wide receiver with their first round pick in the 2014 NFL draft?

We will know in 10 days how the Eagles fill the void left by Jackson’s release, but if there was ever a year to need a receiver, it’s this year as the draft is as rich in receiver talent as any in recent memory.