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Hot start has Eagles legend Brandon Graham re-thinking retirement originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A funny thing happened along the way to retirement.
Brandon Graham started playing lights out.
B.G., at 36 the Eagles’ oldest defensive player in 17 years, has been the Eagles’ most productive edge rusher so far this year. By far.
Graham said all summer this would be his final season, but he said Wednesday at his locker that he could envision a scenario where he puts off his planned retirement and plays a 16th season for the Eagles.
“Honestly, I’m going to stay ready just for one more year,” he said. “Just in case if a situation popped up where it’s like, ‘OK, they need me.’ But right now I’m just trying to get through this year and enjoy it as much as I can. And hopefully make a bunch of plays to help the team and help (my teammates) get to their next level.
“Either way, I’m going to be a part of whatever they’re doing next year. As a player, who knows? But I might stay ready another year depending on how everything goes this year.
“I just want to be able to help in whatever role because I know where they’re going right now and I want to be a part of that.”
B.G., at 36 years, 176 days, is the oldest player drafted by the Eagles to play for the Eagles since Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, who was 36 years, 226 days, when he played his final game in 1961.
He’s the Eagles’ oldest defensive player since backup interior lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen, who was 36 years, 334 days, when he played his eighth and final game for the Eagles on the final day of the 2007 season.
There are only four defensive players in the NFL who are at least 36 – B.G., former Eagle Linval Joseph, Calais Campbell and Jerry Hughes – and B.G.’s 32 snaps per game are most of that group.
Graham is playing 52 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, his highest percentage since 2020, his Pro Bowl season – when he was 32.
But he’s not just playing. He’s playing like vintage…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hot-start-eagles-legend-brandon-020000824.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2024-09-26 02:00:00
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