After absorbing the news that Andrew Jacobson has blown off MLS for France, let's take a deep breath and look at the big picture.

If he had signed with DCU, he was looking at either an upper-developmental contract ($17,700) or a minimum senior deal ($33,000). Bottom line: He's going to earn more in France. Which does not reflect well on MLS -- that a young, promising player is shunning his domestic league for an opportunity. Not a fat contract and a starting job, just an opportunity in a second-tier European league.

Will DCU miss him? In the short term, no. In the long term, probably. With nothing but college experience, Jacobson was not going to see much, if any, first-team action this year. No surprise there. However, he certainly holds some promise of becoming a good professional and, with time, developing into a solid MLS player (think, perhaps, Jeff Larentowicz?). Not that he's completely out of the DCU picture; the club will retain his MLS rights through 2009, so if things do not work out in France and he wants to return, United has first crack at him.

washington post.

www.worldsoccerconnection.net

Tags: Andrew Jacobson Has Blown Off MLS For France