NFL PLAYER NEWS

WR Jackson meeting with Redskins

The Sports Xchange

March 31, 2014 at 10:16 pm.

DeSean Jackson is free to sign with any team. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson will meet with the Washington Redskins on Monday, his first visit since being released by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jackson reportedly got a head start gathering intel on the Redskins by meeting with quarterback Robert Griffin III in Los Angeles over the weekend before a scheduled dinner with coach Jay Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen on Monday night.

NFL.com reported that Jackson was getting a physical Monday night before meeting with the coaches on Tuesday.

ESPN.com also reported that Jackson is deep in negotiations with two teams previously not mentioned as having interest, but ProFootballTalk.com refuted the report.

Jackson posted a tweet Monday morning with a link to an Instagram photo that appears to show Jackson on an airplane.

Washington is among several teams, including the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers, with some level of interest in the 27-year-old Jackson, who was released on Friday.

Wide receiver Pierre Garcon led the Redskins last season, catching 113 passes for 1,346 yards. Jackson would give Griffin another big-play target.

The Raiders are “still doing background work” on Jackson because “they realize there’s some added risk in bringing him home,” the NFL Network reported.

Jackson’s surprising release from the Eagles came two years after he signed a five-year contract extension. He was due $10.5 million this year and $30.5 million over the rest of the deal, but none of it was guaranteed.

Jackson issued a lengthy statement after his release was announced. In the statement, he also addressed a report by NJ.com tying him to a Los Angeles gang.

“First I would like to thank the Eagles organization, the Eagles fans and the city of Philadelphia for my time in Philly,” Jackson said. “I would also like to thank coach Andy Reid for bringing me in.

“Secondly, I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field. I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible.

“I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true.”

According to the report, the Eagles were concerned about Jackson’s alleged ties to Los Angeles gang members who have been connected to two homicides since 2010.

The Los Angeles Police Department dismissed that concern, with Det. Chris Barling telling the Philadelphia Daily News: “It’s kind of like ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.’ When people grow up in neighborhoods where you have gang involvement, you don’t have to look too far before you find a connection to a connection. Now, how sinister that connection is, our position is that’s for others to judge.”

Jackson had a career year with 82 catches for 1,332 yards with nine touchdowns last season.

Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall said the Redskins would welcome Jackson.

“If we could add a piece like that … he’s a threat whenever the ball is in (his) hands,” Hall told CSNWashington.com. “I feel like our locker room has a good group of young guys, a good group of old guys, man. Some of the things (Jackson) has been going through lately, that’s life. That’s life.

“We’ve all been through something, so … if he’s able to come here, man, I’m going to take him under my wing and just try to put him on the right path.”

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