DeSean Jackson Has To Go

Practice makes perfect, right?

Well, not if you’re Desean Jackson.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ p r i z e d diva receiver put himself in the spotlight again this past Wednesday after he made some very interesting comments on The Simms and Lefkoe podcast.

Jackson was in Atlanta with former NFL quarterback Michael Vick. After former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms inflated Jackson’s head to the size of the moon (even though you can make the argument it was already that big), Jackson gave - or inadvertently gave - some insight as to why he never clicked with Jameis Winston downfield.

Here is a transcript of the entire exchange, beginning with Simms’s comments.

“You’re kind of like urban legends,” Simms said. “Alright, you really are, where I feel like maybe you debunk some of the normal rules of the NFL, you know, the step-in-line culture. Because you guys are so talented, that, not to say you can get away with [violating] rules, but you can get away with things other guys could not get away with. I mean, [because] they knew you were [going to perform]. That’s the way the NFL works.”

Jackson’s response was, well, exactly what you would expect from the 11-year veteran.

“I think you have a 100 percent correct way of thinking about it,” Jackson said. “But I think where I’ve been able to come to in my career, it’s like we as athletes, professional athletes, having so much success and early on in our career being in Pro Bowls and being players who has done some things that no other players have done, you kind of create that model and that mold behind that. Like, I know what it takes to get the job done.”

“But then you have some coaches that have the old school mentality, ‘You gotta go to practice. You gotta do it this way.’ But we like, as long as when Sunday comes in between the white lines (and) we do what it takes, we know what needs to be done. So it’s like I love [your] mentality and I wish a lot more coaches in the NFL kind of take that [approach for] certain players. Now the younger players, you have to go through [practice] and get it. But it’s just hard, man.”

Good Lord. Where do we even begin?

First off, shame on Simms for lobbing such a softball question and for completely foregoing the fact that yes, while Jackson has had a stellar career, he has been a complete headache for every team he has played for.

It’s not like Jackson is out here curing cancer. Sure, he has some decent charities outside of the confines of One Buc Place, but this dude isn’t a prized citizen to any extent. For all of the football knowledge that Simms possesses, he should know this, but hey, I guess you gotta keep it friendly on Radio Row.

Second, we all knew about this guy’s ego, but his absolute lack of self-awareness and accountability is second-to-none. All year long - outside of the first two games - he bitched about his role in the offense and how he didn’t click with Winston. He made the case for Ryan Fitzpatrick to continue to be the starter, just so his own stats could be bolstered.

Hey, Desean, here’s a thought: How in the f%!$ to do you expect to develop chemistry with your quarterback if you don’t practice? You are one of the fastest players to ever play in the NFL, most quarterbacks will have to develop some type of rhythm with you in order to create chemistry.

There is no doubt that the uber-talented players get away with more in the NFL, but to sit there and expect entitlement - especially when none of your teams have won a playoff game since 2008 - is absurd and ridiculous.

That’s right, Jackson’s first year in the league saw him play in three postseason games. The Philadelphia Eagles won two of the three, losing to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

Jackson’s teams are 0-5 in the playoffs after winning the first two games. He has 15 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns in that span. He had five receptions for 115 yards in the two wins.

He is Antonio Brown, he’s just missing Brown’s name, skills, accolades - everything that makes him the top receiver in the league. Jackson finished fourth on the Bucs in 2018 when it came to yards and receptions. Adam Humphries, the team’s fourth receiver, finished with better stats in every category outside of yards per reception.

And all of this came with a $11 million cap hit. It doesn’t get much better in 2019, either. Jackson carries a $10 million cap hit in 2019 and the Bucs are one of the more cap-strapped teams in the league.

So, you have a receiver who doesn’t like to practice, loves to bitch and moan, and is expensive.

Three strikes and your out, bud.

But the worst part about all of this is the fact that the Bucs may need Jackson in 2019. Bruce Arians runs a vertical offense and he will need someone who can stretch the field. Fortunately, former Arians’ understudy and speedster John Brown will be a free agent this year, so he could replace Jackson at a cheaper - both financially and headache-wise - rate.

Jackson still thinks he is the same guy from 2008-2013 and his comments reflect that thought.

He’s living in the past while we are all looking toward the future.

Hopefully that future won’t include Jackson’s $10 million salary and shitty attitude.

I’ll pay for the moving expenses, Tampa Bay. Get this guy the hell out of here.

(h/t Joe Bucs Fan)