"He convinced me Keith is not going to be here," Ryan said. "We're just going to have to prepare to go without him, that's all there is to it. Our wideouts are going to be doubled on every play; Keith Byars is going to have to pick up a bigger load."
Wichard has said that Jackson is fully prepared to sit out the season if the Eagles refuse to discuss his contract demands. Eagles president Harry Gamble has had no contact with Wichard, and has said repeatedly that he will not renegotiate Jackson's contract and does not see any compromise in the standoff.
Jackson's contract calls for him to earn $300,000 in base salary this year, with a $62,500 bonus for making the team and up to $200,000 in incentives. He is in the third year of a four-year deal.
Jackson, 25, was Ryan's first-round draft pick in 1988. Ryan was heavily criticized for starting Jackson in his rookie season ahead of the popular John Spagnola, but the critics were silenced by Jackson's rookie-of-the-year play. In his rookie year, Jackson scored six touchdowns and gained 869 yards. He made the Pro Bowl for the second time last year, despite missing all or part of eight games with a back injury.
"I think he's the best player on the offense," Ryan said last week. ''That includes everybody, so, naturally, you worry about having to play without him."
So far, Ryan has cut two free-agent tight ends, Greg Werner, whom the team picked up from the Jets under the Plan B draft in spring, and John Gunnels, a free agent Ryan invited for a tryout. Harper Le Bel, another Plan B acquisition, who played last season for the Seattle Seahawks, has impressed Ryan by the way he snaps the ball in punt formation. Ryan is also evaluatng Ricks Aeilts, a free agent he invited to camp two weeks ago.
"I've been looking at other tight ends on film that teams are trying to trade us," Ryan said. "Some of them are making more money than my guy (Jackson)."
