Two Years Later, Reporter Discusses His Explosive DeSean Jackson Story
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- CBSSports called it "an explosive" story. Within minutes, it was being discussed on every sports talk show in America.
On March 28th, 2014 NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks dropped a bomb on the sports world, releasing a story claiming "gang connections" to then-Eagles star wideout DeSean Jackson. Just minutes after the story was published, D-Jac was released. by the Eagles.
Jackson, now 29, went to Washington to continue his career. Over the past two seasons, Jackson has compiled 86 catches for about 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games. Nothing further has developed, in terms of his reported gang ties.
Shorr-Parks, joining CBS3's Pat Gallen and Ike Reese on Monday's 94WIP Mike & Ike Show, remains proud of that story.
"Obviously, you know, this isn't a run of the mill story -- the way the Eagles have interest in a free-agent or something like that," Shorr-Parks said. "And I think with any story that is big, it wasn't just me. My editor was very much involved, so it's the whole website. And you're right. It's a story you have to make sure that you got correct and we did. Everything that's in there is factual.
Listen: Eliot Shorr-Parks on the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show
"So when you talk about doing your due diligence and all that, absolutely we did all that. And it was a huge story at the time and I think coinciding with them releasing him, obviously, added to it. "
After a 10-6 2014 season, the Eagles became a losing team last year, and subsequently fired Chip Kelly after the team's Week 16 loss to -- ironically -- Washington. They have yet to replace Jackson, a vertical threat ready to bust open any game at any moment.
"Yeah, well I think that would probably coincide with the fact that they can't find a quarterback either," Shorr-Parks explained. "DeSean is a very special talent, obviously, but at the end of the day he's just one player. He's not a quarterback.
"Before Chip got here, DeSean's career was on the downswing. As much as DeSean helped Chip, Chip helped DeSean and LeSean McCoy almost more than they did. He revitalized their careers."
Under Kelly, Jackson had his best season: 82 catches, 1,332 yards, and nine touchdowns. The Eagles shocked the NFL that year, won the NFC East, and came within a missed field-goal of beating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wild Card Playoff round.
Now, Jackson is gone, Kelly is gone, and the Eagles are among the least likely 2016 Super Bowl contenders. How quickly things can change.
