Jay Gruden's comments about Robert Griffin III get dissected and misinterpreted weekly on a national level. But Gruden has a tendency to speak his mind about all of his players, not just his quarterbacks.
Consider his statement about DeSean Jackson on Tuesday:
"The last couple weeks he's been dealing with an injury and he hasn't been quite the same," Gruden said of Jackson via CSNPhilly.com. "I'm a 'what-have-you-done-for-me-lately' kind of guy and lately we haven't seen the DeSean we need to see."
Gruden's comments were interesting, especially when the Philadelphia reporters teed him up to say how much Jackson changes opposing coverage.
"Sometimes they play a little bit deeper, sometimes you get a roll over the top, but not really a whole lot," Gruden said. "I think defenses will play what they play coverage-wise from a standpoint of what they're used to, what they've grown accustomed to."
Gruden noted that Jackson draws the opposition's best cornerback, which helps his teammates. But it was hard not to miss that Gruden's praise of Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was far less reserved.
"I love the way (Maclin) plays, his approach to the football game," Gruden said. "He's tough and it seems like whenever Philly needs a big play, third down and long or they're trailing, Maclin seems to always show up. ...
"Type of guy you want. Accountable guys that when the game's on the line they have no problem making the play, and Jeremy's done that."
Maclin might be the type of guy you want, but there's a good chance he will be re-signed by the Eagles this offseason. Jackson, meanwhile, has all of his 2015 money guaranteed in his contract. He's been one of the few bright spots on the Redskins' offense, even if Gruden is hinting at some displeasure under the surface.
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