Larry Brown Sports

Usually when we hear from Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson it’s because he has something to complain about. Not this time. Instead, Jackson recently took to Instagram to offer some free advice for his male followers on covering their tracks while creeping around on the social network site.

While we can’t say for sure if Jackson was directing his tips at men who have girlfriends, it certainly sounded like it. We’ll let you be the judge. Here are the tips he shared, which were originally created by Isaac Hayes III:

The third tip, which ends with “she’s watching you,” seems to indicate that Jackson is talking about hiding your Instagram creepiness from your significant other. By the way, how old are we?

I guess anything is a step up from DeSean whining about the media twisting his words or sticking up for his record label, but there’s no better way to make yourself sound like a paranoid high school senior than to pass along tips about interacting with women on Instagram without getting caught.

H/T SI’s Extra Mustard

DeSean Jackson faced a ton of criticism last season for what many perceived to be a lack of effort. There were times when it appeared he was avoiding contact and going out of his way to avoid injury, which made sense considering he was playing for a contract. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Jackson basically admitted that he wasn’t trying last season.

“I let it get to me, even though I tried not to let it,” Jackson explained when asked about his effort being questioned in 2011. “I was trying to protect myself from getting hurt — now I’m just giving it all.”

There aren’t many different ways we can interpret the last part of that quote. DeSean was giving less than 100% because he was protecting his future and making sure he got that big contract he was after, and now that he has it he is going to give it his all. However, the 25-year-old seems to think Salters did a poor job of relaying his message.

The Media love twisting my damn words up .. An they always wondering why I don’t wanna talk 2 they ass .. That shit is un – professional

— Desean Jackson (@DeseanJackson10) August 21, 2012

Unless he was completely misquoted, there’s really no way what he said could have been twisted. Several of his own teammates thought Jackson was dogging it last year, so it’s not like it was shocking news when he basically admitted it. Nor is it shocking that he is pissed now that his quote made him sound like a moron.

Photo: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Despite a dreadful year, DeSean Jackson now has his money from the Eagles and is working on trying to improve on last year’s disappointment. And for Jackson that also includes starting his own hip-hop record label. Yeah, I don’t get it either.

“My record label? People can hate on it, but no one knows the truth,” Jackson told 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia (via Sports Radio Interviews). “I just have a passion for music. I grew up around Snoop Dogg and having the relationship I am able to have with him and certain people in the industry. I mean it’s a blessing for me. I am just taking advantage of that and at the same time shedding light and helping out people I grew up with making it in life. … I really don’t get into what people think of or say negatively about it. In my eyes it’s positive.”

Despite warranted concerns fans might have about him occupying himself with something other than football coming off one of his worst seasons, Jackson insists his label won’t be a distraction from his priorities.

“I have my family and friends involved in it,” Jackson added. “Those are the guys I grew up with and when I am focused on football and playing football that’s what I am going to do. When the season comes around I will be 100 percent focused on football.”

You’d expect he’d know that football is a year-round job that needs your total, dedicated commitment, not just when “the season comes around.” Oh, actually, you know what, I wouldn’t expect DeSean Jackson to know that.

Photo: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

DeSean Jackson became a malcontent with the Eagles last season because he was upset about being underpaid, but that apparently did not deter the team from rewarding him. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jackson has signed a five-year $51 million contract to remain with the Eagles.

DeSean has elite game-changing ability, but he has serious character concerns. He was deactivated for a game last season after missing a meeting. His teammates also thought he wasn’t trying during a Thursday night game against the Seahawks.

As good as Jackson is, and as important as he is to Philly’s passing game, you have to wonder about a guy who let his play drop off because he was too concerned about his money. Now that he has been paid, will he have the same motivation he had two seasons ago? You never know with a guy like that, and that’s what makes his contract a big risk for Philly.

We have to imagine the deal will be structured to give Jackson some money up front to please him, but will also allow Philly the ability to cut him if he becomes a problem.

UPDATE: Pro Football Talk has the full details on the contract. They say he’s receiving around $15 million guaranteed.

Now that the season has concluded and DeSean Jackson realizes he needs a new contract, he could be starting to feel the heat. Jackson had an uninspiring 2011 to say the absolute least.  Rather than talk about him hauling in an 80-yard touchdown pass and sparking the Eagles offense, we spent the season talking about Jackson avoiding contact and missing team meetings.  On Sunday following an 86-yard day during which caught a 62-yard touchdown pass, Jackson tried to make amends.

“I can admit to certain things affecting me during the season,” Jackson said according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I just want to apologize. I probably could have handled it a little bit different, but now sitting here after the season’s over I can just say I was able to put it behind me and really just fight for my teammates, fight for my organization.”

Jackson also called Philly “home” and said he hopes he can return to the Eagles next season.  While many believe the Eagles would create mayhem by trying to place the franchise tag on their star receiver, Jackson claims he would have no issue with that.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he said when asked if he would accept the franchise tag. “God got a plan, I’m going to roll with it.”

After a season in which he caught only 58 passes for 961 yards and four touchdowns, the franchise tag might not look all that bad for Jackson.  He was considered a star receiver heading into this season, but he did nothing to build his stock and added to his reputation as a locker room issue.  Michael Vick is proud of the way DeSean handled himself this season, so he may want him to stay.  Andy Reid has also defended Jackson on numerous occasions.  However, we have no reason to think his little apology and supposed attitude adjustment are anything more than a marketing ploy.

It’s been a long, disappointing season for DeSean Jackson. Eagles players knew DeSean was unhappy with his contract and thought he was avoiding contact to stay healthy. Then in November, Jackson was deactivated for a game because he missed a team meeting. And after a bad Thursday night game against the Seahawks, teammates said he wasn’t trying hard.

Despite all that, quarterback Michael Vick is proud of the way DeSean’s handled himself.

“We were just out at practice and you could just see the glow and the sparkle in his eyes now as far as him being out on the field with the guys, having fun, dominating,” Vick said Friday, according to the Philly Inquirer. “I’m just excitied and happy for DeSean for the way he’s handled himself and conducted himself throughout everything, so I think it’ll all take care of itself.”

Huh? Talk about a head scratcher. I know DeSean has played well recently, but come on. The guy is supposed to be one of the top players on the team, but instead he’s been a distraction. He’s one of the reasons the Eagles have disappointed this year. And Vick is happy for the way DeSean has handled himself? Hurray for low standards, I guess.

I’ve long considered DeSean Jackson a punk with an attitude problem. He’s a very talented player, but he’s a bad teammate. It’s been that way since he was at Cal, and it’s continued with the Eagles. That said, I felt like he was singled out for his poor effort last Thursday against the Seahawks. My complaint isn’t picking on him for taking plays off, but for saying he ignored Vince Young on the bench when we can’t be sure of that. Jeremy Maclin pointed out the same thing.

Maclin, another receiver for the Eagles, says he didn’t think DeSean Jackson was ignoring Vince Young before halftime as was reported.

“I don’t think [the media] understood what exactly was going on. I think everybody was kind of assuming things because of whatever’s going on with him,” Maclin said. “It’s unfortunate that people do those type of things.

“If somebody who you’re playing with is talking to you, you pay attention. I honestly don’t think Vince (Young) was talking to him,” when the reported incident was caught on camera.

“Obviously they’re going to try to find anything that they can to nit pick so it’s unfortunate that that happened like that,” Maclin said. “I highly doubt that he’s talking to DeSean right there.”

I won’t go as far as Andy Reid who says DeSean was “all-in” that game, because he clearly wasn’t. But I just don’t think it’s fair for everyone to assume that DeSean was ignoring Vince Young when we don’t know that was the case. I really don’t think it was, because two minutes earlier NFL Network showed DeSean paying attention as Vince talked to him on the bench.