Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly described the team's decision to severe ties with Pro Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson as a "purely football decision."

ESPN reports Kelly and team owner Jeffrey Lurie both recently hinted to fans during an annually held franchise junket Jackson's release was totaly unrelated on his alleged gang ties with several people he grew up with as a youth with in California.

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"We were going in a different direction at the wide receiver position," said Kelly, "We came back from the owners meetings and we had no takers from a trade standpoint, so we thought that it was best at that point and time to release him."

A three-time Pro Bowler who has since inked a three-year $24 million dollar deal with the rival Washington Redskins, Jackson had 82 receptions for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns last season. In Washington, the speedy wideout is being counted on to resurrect a Robert Griffith lead offseason that struggled mightily last season enroute to falling from playoff contention to a 3-13 mark.

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