Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has since apologized for sharing anti-Semitic messages on social media. Friday also saw the team reprimand the three-time Pro Bowl wideout. In addition to blowback on Jackson's bad social media decision, Eagles teammate offensive tackle Lane Johnson shared his own thoughts on the matter, saying Jackson's heart is “in a good place.”
Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Pro Football Talk):
“I’ve talked to him; I know he’s under the fire … With everything that’s happened in the past months, I know his heart has been in a good place helping his people.
“Ultimately when you make mistakes, you have to own up to it. I think the best thing about it now is to get educated and try to make all the wrongs you did right, and that’s all you can do.”
One major problem with Jackson's decision to share anti-Semitic remarks is the ripple effect, like amplifying the inappropriate messages by former NBA small forward Stephen Jackson. Jackson has doubled down and not apologized, unlike DeSean Jackson, for sharing such messages on social media.
While the Eagles receiver appears to be on the path to making amends — New England Patriots Super Bowl MVP wideout Julian Edelman, for instance, offered to take him on an educational trip to a D.C. Holocaust museum — Stephen Jackson has taken the backlash as a sign DeSean was right all along.
The Eagles released a statement earlier today, claiming they “penalized DeSean for conduct detrimental to the team.” The NFC East club, which has general manager Howie Roseman, a Jewish man, in a prominent role in the organization, added “[Jackson] accepted these consequences and apologized.”
This week has exposed a painful reminder of how many people of various backgrounds are still on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination.
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