DeSean Jackson posted two 1,000-yard seasons when working with Sean McVay in Washington, and the veteran wide receiver was candid about seeking a reunion with the wunderkind play-caller.
A potential Buccaneers cap casualty — though, Bruce Arians appears to want the deep threat to stay — Jackson may end up back on the market. He expressed interest in joining the Rams.
“If anything, I would like to kind of end up in L.A., being a Ram,” Jackson said during an appearance on the Simms and Lefkoe podcast (Twitter link). “Sean McVay, you know, we got some connection from when I was in D.C., but we’ll see how it plays out, man. Right now, I got another year in Tampa. So we’ll see how it plays out, man.”
As for the Rams reciprocating said interest, that seems like a stretch. Los Angeles made several splashy moves last year, setting the market at multiple positions and extending Brandin Cooks. Not only does the 25-year-old cover some of the same bases Jackson would, the Rams also have Robert Woods on a veteran contract. Cooper Kupp is due back in 2019 as well. Their repeated big-ticket additions notwithstanding, the Rams are probably not too eager to add another veteran salary to their receiving corps — unless Jackson would be willing to take a big pay cut.
Jackson, 32, is entering the final year of his Bucs contract. Considering Tampa Bay’s financial situation (barely $12MM in cap space), it would not be a stretch to see the team try to lower Jackson’s $10MM salary. Jackson was not too happy being with the Bucs last season, requesting a trade, and did not mesh well with Jameis Winston. Jackson and Dirk Koetter also clashed at a practice this season, with ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine reporting the since-fired coach took issue with Jackson’s effort during one workout, leading to a verbal dispute between the two.
The 11-year veteran said he wants to play for a team with a coach and a quarterback who understand a veteran player’s needs. Arians may fit that mold, but Jackson certainly seems to think McVay does.
“I think like where I’ve been able to come to in my career, as professional athletes having so much success, and early on in our career[s], being Pro Bowlers and being some of the players that have 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,'” Jackson said.
“But then you have some coaches that have the old-school mentality, where, ‘You gotta go to practice. You gotta do it this way.’ But we’re like, ‘As long as when Sunday comes in between the white lines we do what it takes, we know what needs to be done.'”
Jackson also said during the interview he does not have an agent right now. He had been with Joel Segal since 2013.
While we are at it DeSean, I want to play RB for the Rams too.
Jackson is a bigger clown than Dez. The Bucs need to keep him about as much as they need to draft another kicker in the second round. Rams have more than enough offense without this bozo.
I think Jackson can still be a legit contributor on a contending club. I think he’d fit well with the Patriots sans Gordon, Steelers sans Brown, the Vikings and the Packers off the top of my head seem like good fits.
Is there no rules for tampering in the NFL? Lol
The only rule in the NFL is that Goodell gets to play fast and loose with other rules as the need arises.
That’s not tampering. Tampering would be the Rams going on record as saying they want a player under contract to another team, not the player saying he wanted out and play for somebody else. In the NBA that will get you fined by the terms of their CBA not sure if the NFL will fine him.
DeSean Jackson needs to get an agent ASAP. Feels like Jackson keeps digging holes with all these comments.
I as a NFL fan appreciate the comments, but as a Jackson fan he needs to be safer with his words.
Don’t hate on the man for wanting a ring! He’s a a good career! Let him chase the ‘ship!