I’m not sure we should believe anything until it happens, and I’m not sure losing DeSean would sink this team.

But promising the man $9.5 million would do a couple things: 1) Make good on the Eagles’ strategy to mostly keep this team together and not have another season of unnecessary change, 2) make up for the perception, in DeSean’s mind that he’s underappreciated, and lay the groundwork for a new (hopefully short) deal.

Or maybe they’re just greasing the skids to trade him.

All I know is I used to swear by this guy. Now I feel like we can succeed with or without him.