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Eagles' Jackson takes out insurance policy on self

Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson says his insurance coverage is in the "millions." (CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer)

By Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: September 16, 2011

DeSean Jackson said Thursday that he took out a multimillion-dollar insurance policy on himself in early August during his training camp holdout. The details were finalized last week just before the season opener at St. Louis, according to the Eagles wide receiver.

Asked how much the policy was worth, Jackson said he didn't know the exact figure, only that the value was in the "millions."

Jackson is slated to earn approximately $600,000 this season in the final year of the four-year contract he signed as a rookie in 2008. Jackson is widely considered to have outperformed that deal. He and the Eagles have yet to agree on an extension, however, which is why the 24-year-old felt the need to protect his interests in case of injury.

Many athletes take out permanent-disability insurance policies on themselves. A good number of high-profile college football players, for instance, take out policies before their senior seasons to protect potential future earnings.

Jackson said his policy was for one year. His contract expires in early March, when the NFL calendar year flips. Speculation has it that Jackson and the Eagles will rework his contract within the next month or so, but the team has the option to place a one-year franchise tag on the receiver after this season.

For many reasons, however, both sides would likely prefer a multiyear deal. There has been no movement in negotiations, according to league sources. Jackson is seeking a contract similar to the five-year, $45 million deal Santonio Holmes received from the New York Jets in July, a source close to the receiver said.

Drew Rosenhaus represents Jackson. A message left with the agent was not immediately returned Thursday.

An injury, of course, is always just a play away in the NFL. Jackson has suffered two concussions over the last two seasons, causing him to miss two games. Last season against Atlanta, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver took a brutal hit from Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson that knocked him unconscious.

The Eagles travel to Atlanta to face Robinson and the Falcons for a prime-time matchup Sunday.

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745, jmclane@phillynews.com, or @Jeff_McLane on Twitter.