Jackson's rookie contract expires at the end of this season. It has been a topic of conversation for a couple of years now, ever since Jackson made his first Pro Bowl and was one of the most explosive players in the league.
In this era of exploding salaries and enormous signing bonuses, players are hungry to get what they can and teams are cautious to commit. It is a calculated game of cat and mouse and a very important one at that.
Jackson's case has been much discussed. He is worth more than his rookie contract, and I think everyone agrees with that. Jackson's deal is paltry for players who have made two Pro Bowls.
What is he worth? That's the big-picture question, and it is one that neither the Eagles nor Jackson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have agreed upon. And it has been an issue for Jackson all season, even as he has demonstrated restraint when discussing the situation with reporters.
Inside Jackson's head, though, how much has he allowed the contract to affect his play? Jackson's numbers are average at best -- 29 catches, 2 touchdowns and a 17.3-yard-per-catch average. He has 4 rushing attempts for 9 yards and is averaging just 3.7 yards per punt return.
Jackson this season hasn't been the Jackson of past seasons in terms of pure speed and explosiveness. He hasn't made enough big plays to satisfy his craving. And, of course, Jackson was inactive for Sunday's critical loss to Arizona after missing a team meeting on Saturday.
So what becomes of Jackson? Have the Eagles made the decision to move on without Jackson? Are they going to negotiate with him and try to get a deal done? Would they consider using the franchise tag on Jackson, retaining him for at least a season?
I don't know the answer, because I don't think there is an answer yet. This is an extremely fluid situation. Any of the above can happen and I honestly believe that.
Jackson, though, needs to get his focus back. He has seven games to play ball on and off the field, to demonstrate that he is a team player and that his missed meeting was simply a lapse in judgment. And Jackson has to figure out a way to get open, to shake free from the attention he has received. Has much has Jackson been double teamed? I'm not sure that it has happened a lot, to be honest. I think teams have used a safety over the top on Jackson with a cornerback under, but a lot of receivers see that kind of coverage.
All I know is that Jackson is a talented player who has to work hard to keep his edge. It goes quickly in this game, especially when you are a 170-pound body and 5 feet 10 in a league of bigger bodies. Jackson isn't going to have his speed forever. He has to hone his craft and create space in other ways. A little slip in terms of burst can take a Pro Bowl player and make him ordinary very quickly.
Jackson's place in this offense has always been important. Without him on Sunday, the passing game struggled. There was no over-the-top threat for the Cardinals to worry about, so they played eight men in the box and dared the Eagles to win the battles outside. So if the Eagles do move into the future without Jackson, they're going to need to find a way to replace his threat.
Should the Eagles have gotten a deal done prior to the season? It would have put an end to the contract question, but who is to know whether it would have been a good move by this point in the season? Only the direct parties know what Rosenhaus wants and what the Eagles think of Jackson's value. The sides haven't yet come to a common ground, so here we are.
Where is this story going? What is Jackson's future? It is one of the important decisions the Eagles need to make as they evaluate this roster and figure out how to fix this team. Jackson certainly has value and he is a key piece to the offense here. But there is more to retaining Jackson than measuring his impact on the football field. Jackson is an engaging, enigmatic personality. He is immature at times, as evidenced by him missing the meeting the day before such an important spot for the team.
One thing is clear: Jackson needs to have his head screwed on straight this week. The Eagles are in a desperate situation and they need every player and every coach on the same page. The Giants are a very fine team smarting after a tough loss in San Francisco on Sunday. Philadelphia must be at its absolute best, in the face of injuries, to win the game.
And Jackson must be a big part of things. He must help lead the way for the Eagles to dig out of this sizable hole on Sunday and well into the future.
