Butterfingers for DeSean lead to second benching

As much as DeSean Jackson doesn’t want to be a distraction, he is quickly becoming Andy Reid’s biggest roadblock.

Two weeks after being benched for missing a team meeting, Jackson was benched again. This time Reid sat Jackson down in the fourth quarter, after the receiver dropped two would-be touchdowns.

While Reid wouldn’t confirm the benching, Jackson didn’t sugarcoat it.

“It was the decision that was made. As a player, I just have to live with it,” he said.

LeSean McCoy said that he and Jackson talked about it on the sideline.

“He had a bad game, nobody’s perfect,” McCoy said. “I don’t know if that’s why he was benched or not, but he didn’t play well. He knew it. You fight through it.”

Jackson has been lobbying for a long-term contract with the Eagles since last season — without much progress. Despite hauling in four balls for 73 yards against the Patriots, Jackson’s two end-zone drops — a 4-yarder late in the second and a 49-yard bomb in the third — earned him a seat on the bench.

“Things happen sometimes. It wasn’t one of my best games,” Jackson said.

“We all have to do a little better,” Reid said, when asked about Jackson.

Three things we saw

1. Where was Shady? — It’s the question that gets asked after every
Eagles loss: Why wasn’t LeSean McCoy more involved in the offense? The
NFL’s leading rusher touched the ball just six times in the first half.
On a crucial drive late in the second quarter, from inside the 5-yard
line, Andy Reid called three straight passes before settling for a field
goal. McCoy finished with 10 carries for 31 yards and a TD.

2. Second that emotion — The Eagles entered Sunday’s game with huge
injury concerns in their secondary and decided to give Brandon Hughes
his first NFL start with Nnamdi Asomugha (knee) ailing. But it really
didn’t matter who was back in coverage for the Eagles, as QB Tom Brady
carved them up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Asomugha, Hughes and nickel
corner Joselio Hanson were all exposed and safety Nate Allen probably
had his worst game as an Eagle.

3. Play calling — Andy Reid made a lot of questionable play calls.
From abandoning the run game to using Chad Hall in key spots, fans had
every right to call for the coach’s playbook. But Reid’s decision to
call a jumpball for tight end Brent Celek on a fourth-and-1 — midway
through the third quarter, trailing 31-13 — was inexcusable. Vince
Young’s pass didn’t even stay inbounds.