LAPD: DeSean Jackson not connected to gang activity

It would appear the alleged gang connections of former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson were widely overblown. Just prior to Jackson's release, a report from NJ.com claimed that the team was concerned with his connection to gang members and that ultimately played a part in the decision to part ways.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, those connections seem minimal at best.

"It's kind of like 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,'" LAPD Homicide Detective Chris Barling told the Philadelphia Daily News. "When people grow up in neighborhoods where you have gang involvement, you don't have to look too far before you find a connection to connection.

"Now, how sinister that connection is, our position is that's for others to judge."

Jackson was linked to Theron Shakir, who was charged with the murder of a 14-year-old in 2010, and Barling said the police reached out to Jackson related to cases in 2011 and 2012, but only for questioning and there was no evidence he was involved.

"There's no other investigation that I'm aware of where Mr. Jackson's name has come up," Barling said. "It's clear he was not involved in the homicides."

For his part, Jackson released a statement denying the connections after his release from the Eagles. It's yet to be determined if these reports will have an impact on Jackson's search for a new squad.