DeSean Jackson mulls his future

Here is a focused look at one element of the Eagles-Packers game.

DeSean Jackson wants a new contract. This is no secret.

"Hopefully," the wide receiver said after the Eagles' season-ending playoff loss to the Packers on Sunday. "But you can't force it."

Jackson spoke briefly about his contract situation long after a throng of reporters had left his stall. For eight minutes of that group interview, the explosive receiver tried to explain why the Eagles weren't able to get their biggest playmaker involved in the offense yet again.

"It's never about myself, there are still 11 guys out there on the field," Jackson said. "At any given time somebody has to make a play, and if it's not myself, you have other players that are paid and professionals like myself. It would be great to go out there to catch all the deep balls and keep scoring and scoring, but obviously teams are not going to let that happen."

The knee sprain he suffered midway through the first quarter did not help matters. But that occurred during the Eagles' third possession of the game and they still had yet to target Jackson. So once again, for the third straight game, he did not record a reception in the first 15 minutes.

The Eagles' offense is a decidedly different one when Jackson is held in check early. The numbers show it this season and through the latter half of last season. When Jackson is held without a reception in the first quarter, the Eagles are 3-6 dating back to the Nov. 9, 2009, game against the Cowboys. When he has at least one catch, they are 12-3.

In the nine losses during that span, Jackson has just four catches for 25 yards in the first quarter.

"They're playing him a little bit different, but we also have to do a better job of giving him an opportunity," coach Andy Reid said.

When Jackson finally returned in the second quarter with 5 minutes, 15 seconds to go, the Eagles were already trailing, 14-3. Jackson did not have a catch the rest of the half, and he did not have one in the third quarter.

It took until the 8:50 mark of the fourth quarter for the third-year receiver to record his first reception. He put a nifty little move on a Packers defender and picked up 19 yards on the first play of an Eagles drive that netted a touchdown and narrowed the margin to 21-16.

When the Eagles' defense held with two minutes remaining, the Birds had hope, and they had their missile awaiting yet another punt late in the fourth quarter of a close game. But there would be no repeat of Jackson's stupefying, game-winning punt return against the Giants last month.

He did get decent yardage on the return, taking the punt back 14 yards to the Eagles' 44. But a Gerard Lawson holding penalty pushed the Eagles back 10 yards. Jackson, unfettered, caught a short pass over the middle from Michael Vick on first down. It looked like the receiver had some room, but with a bum knee he settled for a 28-yard gain.

That was the last we would hear of Jackson, though. Vick targeted tight end Brent Celek, running back LeSean McCoy, and fourth receiver Riley Cooper on the next four throws. The last attempt to Cooper in the end zone was picked off by Green Bay's Tramon Williams.

The game was over.

The football season was over.

The business season had begun.

Jackson has one year left on the four-year contract he signed as a rookie. He earned $480,000 in base salary this past season, and was vastly underpaid when you compare his salary with those of other Pro Bowl receivers. But there are holes in his game. He finished with only 47 catches this season, which were 39 fewer than Houston's Andre Johnson - the highest-paid receiver in the NFL - and a whopping 68 fewer than Atlanta's Roddy White.

But there might not be an offensive player in the league as explosive as Jackson, as evidenced by his breathtaking return against New York and long touchdown catches against the two other NFC East teams - the Cowboys and Redskins - this season.

Jackson said that he looked forward to having Vick back next season and said the quarterback-receiver tandem could blossom further. Vick's contract expires in March, though.

Jackson was also asked if he planned on having a conversation with Reid and the coaches about how he will be used next season.

"I don't know, man," Jackson said. "Whatever play's called I just go out there and do my best. Hopefully, something might change."

And with that he turned, sat down, and let out a grunt.