Desean Jackson

AN "HONEST mistake," that's how a spokesman for DeSean Jackson described the incident that led to the mercurial receiver being suspended yesterday for the Eagles' season-snuffing, 21-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Jackson said missed a team meeting on Saturday because he overslept and not because he was making a statement about his ongoing contract dispute, according to spokesman Bobby McCrae. "[Jackson] wants to be an Eagle," McCrae said. "When he gets back, he's going to be motivated and he's going to work hard to contribute to what he needs to do. " Well, whoop-dee-damn-do!

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Where began the thrill ride of Brian Westbrook continued the emergence of his apparent successor. As a second-year player, Westbrook streaked 84 yards for a game-winning touchdown in the waning moments of the Eagles' visit to the Meadowlands in 2003. Almost ever since, the Eagles leaned on Westbrook to carry their offense. Now, in his second season, DeSean Jackson has become the sort of weapon Westbrook was: lethal and, sometimes, undefendable. Jackson missed last week's game in Atlanta after sustaining his first concussion the week before.

NOW THAT DeSean Jackson has been franchised by the Eagles, the most likely outcome is that he plays here this season. Maybe that seems kinda obvious, but there are other possibilities. The Birds, who are believed to have floated last weekend's report that they are entertaining offers for their game-breaking wideout, could seek to trade him. If they really wanted to be Machiavellian, they could wait until the prominent pending free-agent wideouts all sign, then yank the tag and throw DeSean on the UFA market late, when he is unlikely to do better on a long-term deal elsewhere than he will with the Birds.

Does DeSean Jackson deserve a contract extension? Both sides of the argument have been presented and argued since the Eagles wide receiver held out from the start of training camp. The debate has been played out on paper, on the radio, online, and on bar stools across the area. But what about the guys on the Eagles - what do they think? While it is safe to say the opinions of Jackson's teammates - and friends in many instances - don't reflect those of the general public, they do matter.

EAGLES WIDE receiver DeSean Jackson is donating $50,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides aid to miliary members who incurred service-connected wounds, injuries or illnesses on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Jackson will present the check Tuesday, fittingly 9/11, at the Fort Dix Joint Base in South Jersey and visit with a group of wounded warriors. "The Wounded Warrior Project is a great organization and this is something that I feel very grateful and blessed to be able to do," Jackson said in a statement.

INTO EACH life, a little Rosenhaus must fall. Or not. Today is when we find out if DeSean Jackson, star client of star agent Drew Rosenhaus, is about to start doing sit-ups in the driveway. At which point, the danger will not be in Jackson's action, not really, but in the potential for overreaction by the Eagles. The thinking all along is that Jackson and his inadequate contract would arrive at Lehigh and go to work and get his new deal from the Eagles sometime during the summer.

Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson have been nominated for PULSE Awards by a subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. Vick is up for "Comeback Player" along with Cleveland's Peyton Hillis, Cincinnati's Terrell Owens, the Jets' LaDainian Tomlinson and New England's Wes Welker. Jackson is among a group heralded as "Emerging Players" along with St. Louis' Sam Bradford, Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman, Green Bay's Clay Matthews, and Atlanta's Matt Ryan. Voting begins today. Fans may vote up to five times per day until Dec. 24 at www.PulseAwards.

BETHLEHEM - No sign of wide receiver DeSean Jackson, despite those reports Sunday that an end to his holdout was near. "Me and DeSean, we've been talking a lot," quarterback Michael Vick said. "Everybody's just trying to get on the same page, and just create an understanding. DeSean, he has an upbeat attitude, very positive right now, and I think he's going to handle the situation like a man. "We just gotta sit back and see what happens, but we want him here, we're looking forward to him coming in. " Vick said he doesn't know when Jackson will be here.

  Star of the workout was DeSean Jackson, who can't be covered one-on-one by anyone here, including Asante Samuel. "I don't see any sign of a sophomore slump," said Kevin Kolb, the No. 1 QB Wednesday with 30-plus-club member Donovan McNabb getting the morning off. "[Jackson] knows the game, he loves the game, and he wants to be great in the NFL . . . whatever it takes for him to be a star, he's going to do it. " Speaking of Asante, nothing like a little sucking up to the boss.