DeSean Jackson Released By Eagles After Report Detailed Alleged Gang Ties

he Philadelphia Eagles sent shockwaves through the NFL by releasing wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday. The 27-year-old was coming off a career-best season, but the Eagles decided not to bring him back in 2014.

The team’s announcement came shortly after NJ.com published a report by Eliot Shorr-Parks and A.J. Perez that outlined alleged connections between Jackson and suspected gang members in Los Angeles who have been connected to two homicides since 2010. Citing unnamed sources, NJ.com reported that the Eagles were more concerned with Jackson’s off-field relationships and behavior than with his on-field performance.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles were aware of the alleged relationships detailed in the NJ.com report and opted to release Jackson rather than continue to pursue a trade because of related concerns.

“I can tell you there was absolutely concern within the Eagles organization about this and I think it got to the point where the Eagles knew not only about the revelations in that story, but they knew other information as well,” Schefter said on Friday during an appearance on SportsCenter. “And it made it such that even in a cut-throat business where you’re always trying to come out ahead and come out with a victory, the Eagles in their good conscience, could not fathom the idea of trading DeSean Jackson knowing he has some of the issues he does right now.”

The nj.com report is here.

This is likely the end of Jackson’s NFL career. In the wake of Aaron Hernandez being charged with 1st Degree Murder, NFL teams are being a great deal more concerned about the actions of players off the field. DeSean Jackson has been close enough to the Cripps that the Eagles see him as an unacceptable risk and I suspect other teams will as well.