DeSean updates

DeSean Jackson seems to be a popular free agent. (USATSI)

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With the surprising news from late last week that the Eagles had released DeSean Jackson, a free agency period that was turning somewhat boring has been reinvigorated with new life. Jackson, after all, would be one of the best free agents in any season and now that most of all the top players have been signed for the 2014 season, much of our attention can be focused on him.

Here's all the news that's fit to print on Jackson from Monday, the day he reportedly was traveling to Washington to meet with the Redskins.

-5:02 p.m. ET: Everybody knows what when you need a strong hot take on the Jackson situation, you go straight to the Grammy-award winning T.I. Thus, here's what he thinks about Jackson and his reported gang ties.

“I think it's a poor display of social growth on behalf of the NFL,” T.I. told The Jim Rome Show on Monday. “I think that in this day and age to profile and to kind of stereotype someone because of the way they walk, or the way they talk, that's profiling by definition. Unless they have some sort of hardcore, concrete, true evidence of a law being broken, I don't see what the big deal is, to be honest.”

-4:50 p.m. ET: Jackson is apparently getting his grub on with Redskins brass tonight, per Albert Breer.

DeSean Jackson is still en route to Redskins Park. Plan is for him to have dinner with coach Jay Gruden and GM Bruce Allen tonight.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 31, 2014

-3:10 p.m. ET: Jackson certainly dresses nice when he's on what we think is an airplane and headed to what we think is Washington. Either way, this is what he posted on his Instagram account with this caption:

"Life Brought me This Far !! Now Create the New Path !! Desire !! Faith !! Motivation !! Believe !! Power !!#Business1st"

-2:41 p.m. ET: Though at least nine teams have expressed interested in Jackson, ESPN.com is reporting that Jackson is in "deep negotiations" with two so-called mystery teams who have not previously shown public interest in him.

If that's to be believed, that means a team other than Raiders, Bills, Panthers, Jets, Chiefs, Patriots, 49ers or Seahawks would have to be involved in negotiating with Jackson.

-1:45 p.m. ET: Giving more fuel to the fire that Jackson is interested in playing for the Redskins, TMZ reports that Jackson and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III recently hung out together.

-1:19 p.m. ET: One sportsbook website has released the odds on which team will sign Jackson. For now, the Redskins are the odds-on favorite at 2/1, but don't forget about the Raiders (3/1), Bills (5/1) or 49ers (5/1). If you'd rather play a longshot, the Chiefs are 15/1.

-9:07 a.m. ET: With the NJ.com report that came out on Friday, there's been plenty of speculation on whether Jackson really is affiliated with any L.A. gangs. His high school athletic director and high school counselor say no.

"DeSean is a great guy -- he was a sweet kid when he was in high school, always very polite and respectful with me," said counselor Debbie Hughes, via the PressTelegram.com. "There was no gang activity with him. He wasn't in a gang. That's not to say other students weren't, but DeSean definitely wasn't one of them."

NFL Hot News

Steelers add RB LeGarrette Blount



The Steelers lost Jonathan Dwyer to the Cardinals earlier this offseason, so they have signed another big back to backup Le'Veon Bell. They signed former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount on Friday to a two-year contract.Blount was dealt away by the Buccaneers for a seventh-round pick last April and became a valuable player for the Patriots late last season. Through the final two weeks of the 2013 regular season and New England's playoff game versus the Colts, Blount ran 64 times for 431 yards and eight touchdowns.



However, Blount won't play a heavy role in the Steelers' offense this season, barring an injury to clear lead runner Bell, who has workhorse qualities. Blount cashed in on his late-season burst, but he is merely a low-end handcuff in Pittsburgh. Bell should touch the ball more than 300 times and be a low-end RB1.Meanwhile, Stevan Ridley has nothing standing in his way toward becoming the Patriots' short-yardage, between-the-tackles runner again. He could be a really nice value pick.