DeSean Jackson has agreed to a deal with the Redskins. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told ESPN radio’s “Mike & Mike Show on Friday that the union is investigating the Philadelphia Eagles’ release of wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
The Eagles cut ties with the star wide receiver last week after NJ.com reported Jackson has gang ties. Jackson denied he is involved with street gangs.
Smith said the NFLPA wants to find out if the Eagles leaked comments or misinformation about Jackson to the media.
“That’s something that we’re going to look at,” Smith said. “We’ve always been aggressive about protecting the integrity of our players, especially where we believe or think that a team may have done something that is impermissible, and that’s something that we’re gonna look at.”
The Eagles stated they released Jackson “after careful consideration” but did not comment further.
The Eagles reportedly released Jackson because of his attitude and contract, not performance. He was due $10.5 million this year and $30.5 million over the rest of the deal, but none of it was guaranteed. He had a career year with 82 catches for 1,332 yards with nine touchdowns last season.
The Washington Redskins picked up Jackson and signed him to a three-year deal on Wednesday that is reportedly worth $24 million, including $16 million guaranteed.
“You’re talking to a guy who spent 10 years as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., and I grew up in the city … to have someone come out and say ‘gang affiliation,’ I’m not sure I know what that means,” Smith said. “I certainly know what it means to prosecute members of a gang. I certainly know what it means to be a member of organized crime. I don’t know what it means when a team or an official says that there’s ‘gang affiliations.’
“To me, the real issue is this is the business of football. If you want to make a decision to cut a player, tell a player he’s cut. Make a decision. But if you want to smear a player with innuendo or something that is less than proof … you know that I was very aggressive in calling a few GMs cowards for what they said about a young man coming out of college (former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam). It seems to me that the same thing applies … if you want to smear someone and you don’t have any evidence.”
