After all the speculation, DeSean Jackson never left Washington without a contract. The Redskins have announced that they have agreed on a 3 year deal with the talented wide receiver. Terms of the deal are not yet known. Adding Jackson bolsters a strong receiving corps already including Pierre Garcon, Andre Roberts and Santana Moss.
Earlier in the day, there were rumors that the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns were making strong pushes to woo Jackson, but in the end it was the Redskins stepping up to get the deal done. Jackson also announced the deal on Twitter:
What was the deciding factor for Jackson. Was it the opportunity to square off against his former team two times a year? Competitive athletes love an opportunity to prove to their former teams that they made a mistake by letting them go. Were the Redskins the only team that made a serious run? It was no secret that Jackson was commanding a hefty price tag for his services.
While the Redskins certainly improved with the signing, they still have some serious question marks. Which RG III will take the reigns this year? Will it be the player who set the NFL on fire during his sensational rookie year, or the struggling quarterback who clearly was not the same player following surgery to repair torn ligaments in the knee this past season? Then there is the question of the new leadership in the form of head coach Jay Gruden and first-year offensive coordinator Sean McVay.
Jackson has a real opportunity to prove his pundits wrong by flourishing in D.C. His style stretches the field for the offense which allows the running game to be even more effective. If he doesn't take the opportunity and run with it, he may end up proving that his former employer was right all along.