Since Redskins fans are still fed in the head from years of careless spending, and the ensuing revelation the rest of the leagues fans had been LOLing at them all the while, its understandable for them to be more than skeptical towards the prospect of signing DeSean Jackson. Leeriness aside, spending in free agency is a necessary component to building a successful franchise. SMART spending. And each available free agent has to be examined on a case-by-case basis. So let me make the case for signing Jackson. At 27-years-old and 6 seasons in, Jackson has 356 receptions for 6,117 yards and 32 touchdowns, and hes coming off the best year of his career: 82 catches, 1,332 yards, 9 TDs. Comparatively, also w/ 6 seasons and at roughly the same age, Pierre Garcon has 345 receptions, 4,498 yards and 25 TDs (113 catches, 1,346 yards, 5 TDs in 13). With similar production, theyre very different players. Jacksons a greater deep threat. Adding him would bring another dimension to the Redskins roster, stretching the field so Griffin isnt forced to run with such frequency, limiting his potential for injury and allowing him to focus on developing as a pocket passer. This also makes RGIII more of a passive, but still lethal, threat to turn it upfield. That extends his career. To me, thats worth the money youd spend on Jackson. This isnt Albert Haynesworth, Mark Carrier or Dana Stubblefield. Its not even Trung Canidate. This is a hungry, proven All-Pro caliber receiver, likely with his best years ahead of him. Hes a diva, you say? What elite wide receiver are you aware of who isnt a diva [save for company (paid) man Larry Fitzgerald]? Even Garcon last year openly criticized the Redskins offense. Chip Kelly is trying to prove a Bill Belichick point, with the NFL coaching experience of Josh McDaniels (Oh hey, Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn. Say hi to Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler and Peyton Hillis). If you can get Jackson on a 1- or 2-year deal, you do it, and have a receiver not only trying to prove his value to the league, but to his former team, in-division. That opportunity doesnt come along often. If you cant, you dont, but dont let years of wasteful window shopping skew your opinion of a guy whos worth every dollar he commands on the open market.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 17:31:39 +0000