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Re-signing Jeremy Maclin Is A Must For Philadelphia Eagles

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Jeremy Maclin

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When Jeremy Maclin turned down a two-year offer from the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of the season, there was a lot of doubt about his future with the club. He was coming off his second ACL knee injury, Riley Cooper had just been locked up long-term, and it seemed like his exit was all but certain. Nobody knew what to expect from the 2009 first-round pick. It was an uncomfortably ominous feeling, which got compounded when DeSean Jackson was released.

Now, Maclin’s season can be summed up in two words: DeSean who?

Maclin gambled on himself and won big-time. Stepping in to Jackson’s role on the team as the deep threat, Maclin has put together a marvelous comeback season with 1,269 yards and 10 touchdowns so far. He’s cemented himself as the Eagles’ No. 1 receiving threat and is now in the position of earning himself a massive upgrade in pay, either in Philly or in free agency.

The Eagles know it’s time to pony up and so does Maclin, and locking him up long-term is a must for this team.

The good thing is, based on early rumblings from Maclin’s camp, he wants to stay here in Philadelphia. Does that mean he’ll give the team the good old hometown discount? Probably not. But I think he’ll be reasonable in his contract demands and agree to terms that won’t hamstring the teams’ offseason capabilities.

I’m thinking Maclin’s starting point will be in the ballpark of what Mike Wallace got from the Miami Dolphins. It’s also a good thing that there is no significant risk in signing Maclin to a big deal. He’s proven himself on the field as a consistent playmaker, and there’s no doubting what he brings to this offense.

No one wants to see the Eagles’ starting offense with Cooper out there. Maclin and the Eagles are a perfect fit. It’s time to pay the man.

Doug Green is a blogger for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.  Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL

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