Two inner-city kids escape gangster lifestyles and make millions playing ball… but at what cost?

The Philadelphia Eagles released DeSean Jackson on Friday after NJ.com reported the star receiver is tied to a Los Angeles gang.

The star receiver has since denied that he’s affiliated with gang members.

Jackson, 27, is from Long Beach and attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. The school has produced famous alumni such as Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and, believe it or not, Cameron Diaz.

Anyone who ever listened to an early-90s Snoop Dogg album is well aware of the gangster culture prominent in that area. While national media obsesses about Jackson’s alleged friends, many forget that he doesn’t have the criminal background that many star athletes have.

Yes, Jackson was arrested in September 2009.

He was arrested for possession of marijuana and having tinted windows on his car that were considered too dark. This is the worst thing he’s ever done that we are aware of. He is not Aaron Hernandez. He’s not even Ray Rice.

D-Jax was recently the victim of a crime himself, when his Philadelphia home was robbed of a reported $325,000 in cash and jewelry.

Nick Young, 28, of the Los Angeles Lakers happened to grow up in Reseda, which is across town from Long Beach. In a bizarre “coincidence,” Young’s house was burglarized on Sunday night while he was busy playing at home against the Orlando Magic. A tweet by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles confirms that the two star athletes are friends.

Young reportedly had $100,000 in cash, jewelry and luggage stolen from his home. They even made off with Young’s Nike Air Yeezy sneakers, which are extremely rare and valuable.

Could the burglaries be connected?

Is it possible that gang members from Jackson and Young’s past are targeting the successful few that managed to escape the inner city? Perhaps knowing they wouldn’t “snitch?” Maybe even payback for a protected childhood?

Two star athletes, one of whom is allegedly tied to active "street gangs", are victims of crimes in which they lost significant personal property.

While it’s doubtful that the same culprit committed both crimes, with one occurring in Los Angeles and the other across the country in Philadelphia, it does serve as a valuable reminder: nobody is safe.

Star athletes from the inner city can’t escape perception. And now it seems they can’t even escape being victims themselves.

Questions? Hit me on Twitter @briansflood