Desean Jackson & Jeremy Maclin... rivals?
by JasonB on Aug 6, 2009 6:54 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintIs there a rivalry brewing between Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin? At least from Jackson's perspective, it seems that way.
"When they made that pick I didn’t really understand it, but it is what it is," said Jackson, who emphasized that he’s not bothered by the decision to draft Maclin and instead sees it as a motivating force.
"He’s a first-round pick. I’m a second-round. He’s going to set the goals high for me."
It's not really a secret that Desean Jackson thought he'd be a first round pick last year. In fact, many people speculated that his drop to the second round put a chip on his shoulder that motivated him to have the kind of year he did last season. It certainly seems that seeing Jeremy Maclin, who was drafted where Desean thought he belonged, hold out and miss a week of camp has provided even further motivation. It also seems that the very fact the Eagles drafted Maclin has given Jackson motivation.
Desean has been the unquestioned star of Eagles' camp so far. In fact he hasn't just been the best WR, Les Bown called him "the best player on the field." If this is what he needs to motivate him, so be it.
More after the jump
Jackson attributes his success so far to hard work.
"I'm not calling the plays and I'm not scheming anything up, but as many balls come my way, that's as many balls as I'm going to catch," Jackson said Thursday. "The biggest thing is being consistent. That's what I'm doing through this camp ... working hard, putting the work in. There's no substitute for the hard work you put in."
That's from a guy a lot of scouts called "lazy" coming out of college.
Jackson also seems to have set some high goals for himself, including doubling his production from last season.
Asked if he has a goal in mind for receptions this season, Jackson replied: "I’m honestly trying to double that."
About 120 catches?
"Higher. Keep talking, man. Keep going up," he said.
Jackson also seems to have fed off a friendly rivalrly with Asante Samuel.
"He’s confident. And that’s Asante out there," Kevin Kolb said. "It’s fun. It’s a blast. Asante’s talking. Of course you know DeSean’s going to talk. I’d say DeSean got the best of him [Wednesday] for sure."
"I mean, he’s in what, his sixth, seventh year? This is my second," said Jackson, who turns 23 in December. "I’ll give it to him, but I mean I’m not going to let him put himself over me too much because, as you can see in our battles, we go at it. I must be great with him."
There's an edge to this kid and I like it.
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Desean is the man!
Seriously, I didn’t understand the Maclin pick either, I didn’t want Boldin after we got Jason Peters…D-Jax is the best offensive rookie we’ve ever had. I’d take Desean in this rivalry.
JMac is 10 Better
How could you think a simple, ordinary player like Desean Jackson is better than Maclin? Maclin is the next best thing in Philly! Jackson will fade in the wind, but Maclin is going to be a Hall of Famer. Watch.
If there's a friendly rivalry
one that makes BOTH players better, than I am all for it. I’d love to see both step up their game because they want to be the best. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, just as long as it helps the team.
I love it
This kid has earned some major respect with some of those quotes.
All I’m going to say is that I absolutely love it.
RIP Jim Johnson. You will truly be missed.
by Igglesfan13 on Aug 6, 2009 7:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Agreed
I don’t think drafting Maclin was in any way a slight on DeSean Jackson. There’s two starting receivers and they wanted to fill the other one. I think it could be a tremendous 1-2 punch at WR in a couple years. But, if it motivates Jackson to play harder it can only be a good thing.
Sometimes it's just fun to take the family for a spin around the lake in the old boat. Even if it's not your family or your boat, and they're screaming for you to stop.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Aug 6, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I keep hearing that Jackson is a jack ass...
But, he seems to be saying an ddoing all the right things. Could be a hot head off the cameras like most of the athletes, but hes presenting himself well so far.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
There's so far
absolutely nothing Desean has done to make me upset. He’s a playmaker, and well-spoken, and a nice guy.
I’m glad he’s pissed about the 1st round of the NFL draft again. Recent history says this is a good thing for the Eagles.
even the...
“touchdown” play.
That play ALMOST lost me a fantasy football game but i pulled it out in the end. But a play like that definitely makes me upset, but no doubt has he made up for it through the rest of his performance last year. So i have high hopes for DJax but everyone still has to remember, its only been one year. Michael Clayton had an amazing rookie year and has drastically trailed off after that.
i wanted to kill him
when he dropped that ball, i had jackson on my fantasy team and my opponent for the week had westbrook who ended up getting the touchdown. I ended up losing by 3 points too.
All in all though this kid is a stud and I’m all for him having a rivalry with Maclin as long as it doesn’t get childish or destructive. I’d be pretty pissed if I were him too if I was getting 2nd round money after the season I had last year when Maclin is making 15 mil and held out for so long.
I’m pumped when I hear news that he is having from all accounts a stellar camp and I love that he is winning match ups against our best corner Jack Ikegwuonu Asante Samuel. Heres to a great season from Jackson and to the front office giving him dollar dollar bills yall after this season to lock him down.
hahaha
our best corner Jack Ikegwuonu Asante Samuel
by RIP26_litodoin'work on Aug 7, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Jackson
He has what it takes to be GREAT and I’m glad that he LOVES to prove his ability. I just hope that his head doesn’t swell.
What is he 22?
The guy is a stud on the field and hes just a kid, for him to be handleing it like this is great with me. Most 22 yr olds with this kind of accomplishment would be impossable. I agree this rivalry can only make things better. The only thing that has me worried i if this causes problems with comrodere on the team- I always like to believe this is a group of guys who love each other, it may seem nieve but atleast the O and D are tight knit groups. The Eagles dont do well with Egos Trip characters so I hope this doesnt go too far
Besides these guys could make the Mac & Jax 1 2 punch!
RIP JJ
Great to hear !
I love Djax’s attitude. I know last year before he came to the eagles he did a lot of work with the greatest receiver…arguably the greatest PLAYER of all time…Jerry Rice. It sounds like that has really rubbed off on him big time. Hopefully he and Maclin can push each other. And what about Kevin Curtis ? I have not heard one thing about him in camp…is he not playing well or is he just a boring story at this point ?
Rice and Taylor didn’t share warm bubble baths, nor did Stallworth and Swann. I don’t care if Jackson and Maclin are having daily knife fights in the parking lot so long as we can someday compare them to those two pairs.
by Tracer Bullet on Aug 6, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
if they are having daily knife fights, and both are able to show up to play the next day, then something’s wrong with their street fightin skills!
by GreenInBaltimore on Aug 6, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This is great
I understood the pick. Why wouldn’t you want more weapons on offense? Isn’t hard to argue Maclin’s potential.
I have a man crush on DJax. He is the man. I really hope that he continues to mature and this shouldn’t bother anyone. Look what happened when Kolb was drafted, Mcnabb had to have been butthurt.
I don’t know about all of ya’ll, but, if he takes care of business this year I want him to get huge contract. He is only 22 and beating Asante? Great.
I love this kid ...
I had the opportunity to meet him last year and he was great. I talked to his handlers and they said he was the most humble player they had ever worked with. I should note I’ve met several other Eagles players and talked to their handlers and not heard this before so it’s not a party line.
Anything that motivates him is okay with me he loves to prove his critics and anyone else wrong.
Jim Johnson 1941-2009
"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009
The Maclin pick was for value, pure + simple. If a talent like that falls on draft day, you HAVE to try and get it.
I still think they would have taken Ayers if Denver hadn’t snagged him at 18 (in hindsight, that would have been great to help with the JT/Abiamiri issues). But I’m happy Maclin’s here, and finally in camp.
With any luck we’ll have two solid bookend WR’s for the next five (+) years.
.K
i too wondered what the hell that was
I’m all for the rivalry as long as sept 13th, their on the same team
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
To go past all of the other reasons listed above, I also think that Maclin just about fell into our laps. I dont think anyone believes that we were going to draft a WR in rd 1, but when Maclin was within reach, it was worth grabbing him up
by GreenInBaltimore on Aug 6, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions
absolutely...
he’s a top ten talent that we got at #19. it’s nothing against desean, curtis, or any other wr. sometimes you just have to take the best player on the board.
+1
You can’t pass up a player like Maclin at that point unless you have another glaring need. The Eagles at the time never had a real glaring need they needed to fill.
Could be wrong but wasn’t Peters already an Eagle at the time of the pick? Can’t remember.
Asked if he has a goal in mind for receptions this season, Jackson replied: “I’m honestly trying to double that.”
About 120 catches?
“Higher. Keep talking, man. Keep going up,” he said.
This is why I love DeSean.
This is quintessential Desean. If only we could have fielded a decent QB at Cal during his years, I honestly believe he would have been the #1 pick in the draft. I say this in absolute seriousness. He has talent unlike many WR’s today. While he is somewhat average height, he has speed and hands unseen in this league since Rice in his prime. GO DESEAN! GO!
"I look forward to a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose."
John F. Kennedy
Hopefully
This turns out good. Maybe they will have a friendly competition for the time they are together like who can put up the most yards, catches and/or touchdowns. Desean obviously got a unfair advantage this year but in years to go….lets see.
I love both of these guys and definitely agree with the draft pick. What I’m worried about is this story spinning out of control as so many seem to do in this town. If other reporters pick up this ball and run with it we could see two unhappy campers. I don’t want to seem like a Negadelphian, maybe I’m just a Worriedelphian.
"Luis Zedejas, I kick field goals. Am I nervous, yeah I suppose. Win the game by hittin the mark, this game is over before it starts."
-Buddy's Watchin You
by IWantToFlyLikeAnEagle on Aug 7, 2009 12:34 AM EDT reply actions
fantastic … I had to stop using Negadelphian because that fucking clown GCobb used it, I have now found it’s replacement.
Jim Johnson 1941-2009
"The 0-2 pitch, swing and a miss! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! And let the city celebrate! " - Harry Kalas 1936-2009
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