The Eagles have now washed their hands of DeSean Jackson.
Getting rid of him - either on the field or in the heads of their fans - is going to be a bit more difficult.
The speedy home run hitter who caught 82 balls for the Eagles last year is now a member of the Washington Redskins. It is being widely reported that he signed off on a three-year deal with the 'Skins last night that will be made official today. Beat writer Bob Grotz has the details here.
The Eagles released him on Friday, less than an hour after a story hit the Internet detailing some allegations that some Jackson acquaintances had gang links.
The Birds apparently had been hoping to move Jackson, but found no takers.
For a guy who accounted for 1,332 yards and 9 TDs last year, this is what the Eagles now have to show for it: Nothing. Nada. Zip.
They did, however, save a boatload of money. They were going to be on the hook for more than $10 million for Jackson next season, and will take a cap hit in the vicinity of $6 million.
Amazingly, the Eagles continue to remain silent on the Jackson affair, releasing only a two-sentence statement last week indicating "after careful review," the team had decided to part ways with the wide receiver.
Now they are going to get a chance to be reminded of that decision twice a year for the next three years.
They very well may be right. Maybe Jackson, who has a track record of not being especially motivated, in particular when he's not happy with his contract, and whose size made it difficult to deal with one-on-one press coverage and in the red zone, really did not fit into coach Chip Kelly's grand plan.
He's been pretty clear about his belief that "big people beat up little people."
At this point, fans simply will have to trust Kelly, who led this team to an unlikely 10-6 record and surprise playoff spot in his first year at the helm.
But there is one thing Kelly can count on. It's the same thing Andy Reid counted on in his latter years with a struggling team.
That kind of smug arrogance, the belief that you are smarter than everyone else in the room, plays a lot better when you're 10-6 than when you're 8-8 - or worse.
Simply put, the Eagles and Kelly are left with this after watching Jackson walk away and get absolutely nothing in return.
They better be right.
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