Richard Sherman has shown himself to be one of the most-well-spoken and intelligent athletes in professional sports and he has done it again regarding the DeSean Jackson situation, defending the released Eagles star in a column on the MMQB.com, writing about how Philadelphia opted to keep Riley Cooper after his racial slur problem earlier last year and cutting Jackson for "ties" to gangs back home in LA, calling out the team for being hypocrites.
The whole situation has many layers and things to it, but at the end of the day, Sherman sums things up well, writing that the Eagles opted to cut Jackson for simple "ties" to gang connections that are only alleged, while they felt they could keep Cooper and give him counseling and help. Sherman points out the issues on both sides and talks about how the color of the skin of the two players had an effect on how the Eagles acted and based on how things played out, he sure has a point.
While Jackson surely had many problems, including reports of missing meetings, not working hard enough and he also had a big contract, but he was a very explosive and productive player and after the NJ.com report came out about his gang connections, the Eagles released him. Sherman writes that by that form of logic, Cooper had "ties" to racial behavior and being a racists and all he got was a contract in the offseason and no punishment from the NFL, while Jackson was released. Call it the Aaron Hernandez effect, but Sherman sure has a point, including about what happened with Jim Irsay.
Sherman writes that "crimes in this league and be a certain color, and you get help, not scorn," and while some may push back on that, the facts sure add up in his favor. The NFL does have a rave problem and so does America and Sherman points out a myriad of ways that people are hypocrites when it comes to taking action about it. Sure, Cooper had a great season and got a contract, fine; but Jackson? He had a great season and the NJ.com report only spoke about people he was friends with and not Jackson himself being a gang member and for that he gets released.
Now the Eagles will have Jackson coming back to Philly and he probably will give them nightmares after signing with the Redskins in the NFC East. Check here for the link to the article.
