Of course, the Eagles now say, they had no reservations about drafting DeSean Jackson in 2008. If that was, indeed, true, they were the only ones. On draft day, the fastest, most elusive wide receiver available was passed over 32 times in the first round. The Eagles know why Jackson dropped into their laps (49th pick) in the following round.
"We had him in the first round," Eagles general manager Tom Heckert said. "We thought he might fall just a little bit because of his size, number one. And there was - I wouldn't say 'baggage' - but there were some concerns about him. Not being a bad guy, just that his practice habits weren't always great."
Jackson had 62 catches during his rookie season, which provides some answers to the questions about his habits. Then, during preseason practices this year, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound wideout was easily the Eagles' most dynamic performer and one of their most professional. Jackson's sophomore season is loaded with incentives. He can prove his rookie season was no fluke. The 22-year-old also wants that big contract he never got - the one the Eagles just gave to their 2009 first-round draft pick, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
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