If DeSean Jackson has any red flags to his name, the Washington Redskins do not see them. The wide receiver was released by the Philadelphia Eagles after reports surfaced about gang-related activities and Jackson's involvement in it. Pair that with a supposed poor team attitude and contract demands and Jackson was viewed as a bad locker room presence. However, the Redskins signed him to a deal and are not concerned with any of that.
Head coach Jay Gruden is simply focusing on Jackson's involvement on the field and not what he is reportedly doing off it. Expected to become Robert Griffin III's new favorite target on the field, the coach is only thinking about maximizing Jackson's name in the offense and not his associations being reported in the media.
"I don't know about any red flags," Gruden said, via ESPN.com. "I know he's a great football player. We met him, I felt great about his character. Time will tell, but I don't foresee any challenges in that regard. He's a good player. He's been productive. I think we're excited to have him and anything off the field, we're not concerned about. We're counting on DeSean as a player and person moving forward that he's going to be a fit in the locker room and obviously be a great asset off the field."
General manager Bruce Allen echoed those statements saying that the Redskins opted to form their own opinions on Jackson instead of following what the media was reporting. Chip Kelly is making it known that the media had it wrong with Jackson. The Philadelphia Eagles coach said the wide receiver's release was strictly based on football business and nothing else.
"We just wanted to go in a different direction. It had nothing to do with any article. Purely football," Kelly said, via the New York Post. "We had no offers for DeSean. It doesn't matter what we wanted, because we had no offers."
Jackson was a big salary cap hit so that could be true. Media reports surfaced saying both the 49ers and Patriots were interested in a trade for Jackson, but nothing got past preliminary talks. Now the Redskins will hope Kelly is right.
Griffin is hoping the same thing. The quarterback told the Washington Post that he is eager to work with Jackson in team workouts and believes the Redskins could have one of the better offenses this season.
