At One Nova-Care Way in Philly, wide receiver DeSean Jackson is in pretty much the same boat as Titans RB Chris Johnson. Like Johnson, the 2008 second-round pick clearly has outplayed his 4-year, $3.47 million rookie contract and is looking for an extension. Even hired The Extension King, Drew Rosenhaus, late last year, to help him.
But Jackson is facing the same difficult uncapped-year roadblock as Johnson: the 30 percent rule, which limits the year-to-year salary increases a player can receive in an extension.
While Jackson and Johnson are in the same boat, the two players have chosen two very different ways to deal with their current dilemmas. Jackson has dealt with his situation much more maturely. Just 2 years after falling into the middle of the second round of the draft because of character and work-ethic questions, the Pro Bowl wide receiver is rapidly developing into one of the locker-room leaders of a young Eagles team that has just one non-kicker over the age of 29 on its roster.
Jackson seems like no threat to hold out, and given the Eagles have dumped a load of money this offseason, he's eventually going to get paid. Jackson emerged into a top, big-play fantasy receiver last year. That shouldn't change this season, even with Kevin Kolb now the QB.