Through the use of two of his high-profile clients offering another a platform, ubiquitous agent Drew Rosenhaus was behind the scenes working his angles once again.
Eagles wide receiver and 165 lb. turbo rocket DeSean Jackson appeared on the Versus network T.Ocho show, featuring, of course, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. The program presumably gives their opinionated takes on all things (I have not seen it). With Jackson as a guest, the topic turned to (surprise) Jackson's contract situation, as he is now finishing the third year of his four-year rookie contract.
Given the national stage, Jackson said to Owens, whose own one-year deal is set to expire:
T.O., man, I'm gonna set the bar for you, man. I'm gonna try to get the most I can and I'm gonna set it high for you and I'm gonna set it high for everybody else, too, so it's a good look, man. They gonna have to do something, man, because I'm out there, they way I'm putting it in, hey, something gotta happen baby.
The interchange gave us a peek at what players talk about all the time yet few see it publicly: getting paid. More than anyone knows, the subject consumes players either up for contract and causes feelings of disrespect that they are not negotiating one to the level they think.
And behind all of this was Drew Rosenhaus, agent to Owens, Ochocinco and Jackson. Rosenhaus has been publicly silent about Jackson's contract situation, but quietly active.
NFL teams very much like dealing with Drew when he has a client that needs a contract. He is an efficient and quick dealmaker that will not hold up an agreement (Drew and I negotiated LeSean McCoy's contract with the Eagles in a couple of hours over breakfast at a diner in South Philadelphia) .
The difficulty with Drew is when he has a client that doesn't need a new contract, but rather feels he deserves one earlier than the team does. That is where Drew can become a pebble in the shoe of NFL teams.
Without him saying a word, two of Rosenhaus's other client inserted Jackson's contract in the national debate.