Eagles have announced the release of DeSean Jackson. Anything but a surprise at this point. Were unable to deal him
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 28, 2014
And let the bidding begin.
The Eagles parted ways with Jackson Friday, not long after multiple trade attempts went for naught. Jackson had previously said he spoke with the team and indicated he was staying.
The New York Jets were a team said to have been interested in trading for the wide receiver, and such a move would unite him with his quarterback in Philadelphia, Michael Vick. The Jets signed free agent WR Eric Decker this offseason as well.
Recent allegations of Jackson's gang affiliation likely torpedoed his trade market. From NJ.com Friday:
Yet the Eagles' apparent interest in jettisoning Jackson likely has little to do with his performance on the field or a big-money contract that could squeeze the team's salary cap. Rather, sources close to Jackson and within the Eagles' organization say, it's Jackson's off-field behavior that concerns the front office. A bad attitude, an inconsistent work ethic, missed meetings and a lack of chemistry with head coach Chip Kelly are the reasons, sources told NJ.com. And when the Eagles looked more deeply into why Jackson was missing meetings, they found that his friends were becoming a more powerful -- and negative -- influence in his life.Now the Eagles have even more serious concerns -- Jackson's continued association with reputed Los Angeles street gang members who have been connected to two homicides since 2010.
Needless to say, the Steelers are not likely to pursue Jackson. While the complimentary deep threat to Antonio Brown with Ben Roethlisberger throwing the ball would be tempting, the money Jackson is likely to garner puts him well out of the Steelers' range. The Steelers are expected to draft another wide receiver early in the 2014 NFL Draft, and they signed Lance Moore in free agency after the team lost Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery via free agency.
For more on the Jackson release directly from the source, check out Bleeding Green Nation on the SB Nation football network.