Brandon Graham, one of the best players in Eagles’ history, has decided to resume his career.
The veteran defensive end announced on his podcast earlier this week that he will end his retirement and return to the team.
“I’m excited,” Graham said on his podcast. “No expectations, just excited to get after it. I believe in the team. I think they have everything they need, I’m just ready to add a little more value.”
Graham, 37, announced his retirement after the Eagles’ 40-22 romp over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl last season.
He retired as the franchise’s alltime career leader in seasons played with the team (15) and games (206) while ranking third in career sacks with 76.5, trailing only Reggie White (124) and Trent Cole (85.5).
He also delivered perhaps the most important defensive play in team history with his strip sack of quarterback Tom Brady that sealed the Eagles’ 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII in the 2017 season.
Last season, he registered 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss in 11 regular-season games before suffering a torn triceps against the Los Angeles Rams. He returned for the Super Bowl and played well despite reportedly reinjuring his triceps.
Soon after the game, he delivered an emotional speech during the championship celebration while announcing his retirement, but soon began to have second thoughts.
“I really didn’t want to retire in the beginning … It was kind of tough. But I was like, ‘I really don’t see myself with any other team, so I think the best way to do it is to go out on top,’” Graham said. “Months went by and I was still working out and stuff, but I was enjoying myself, too. Playing a lot of golf and creating a new schedule for myself. But when it got close to the football season, [the team indicated they wanted him back]. But I wasn’t ready.”
The Eagles, who also lost edge rusher Josh Sweat to free agency (Arizona Cardinals), filled the void by signing veteran free agent Za’Darius Smith. Smith played well for the team, but announced his retirement last week.
That’s apparently when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman reached out again to Graham to see if he’d be interested in returning.
He joins a unit that includes edge rushers Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, Patrick Johnson and Nolan Smith (injured reserve).
The team had been struggling to generate an outside pass rush before last Sunday. Uche and Ojulari each earned sacks and Hunt returned a Carson Wentz interception for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 28-22 win at Minnesota.
Graham’s value to the team extends behind the field, however. More importantly, he will provide veteran leadership to a team that lost some of that in the offseason with the loss of Graham, cornerback Darius Slay and others.
“If he plays every snap or no snaps, it don’t matter,” Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean told the team’s web site earlier this week. “The energy that B.G. brings is unparalleled. To just have a guy like that in the locker room like that, it would be great.”
It’s tough to gauge whether he’s making the right move.
There’s a saying that it’s better to walk away from the game too soon than to limp away too late.
But he clearly misses football enough to take that chance.
For him, sinking a 10-foot birdie putt just didn’t match the thrill of sacking a quarterback.
Millville’s Kennedy will enjoy World Series
Buddy Kennedy is in position to win a World Series ring no matter who wins the “Fall Classic.”
The Millville High School graduate played for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays this season, meaning he’s eligible to win a ring regardless of the outcome.
Kennedy, who also played for the Phillies earlier this season, appeared in two games for the Blue Jays in early August, going a combined 1-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a walk.
He played in seven games for the Dodgers later that month and batted .059 (1-for-17) with a run scored and an RBI.
Upon being designated for assignment by the Dodgers, Kennedy opted for free agency and signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays last month.
He would become the third former Cape-Atlantic League player to receive a World Series ring, joining Vineland grad Darren Ford and Lower Cape May Regional’s Matt Szczur.
Ford was an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants in 2010 while Szczur played for the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Neither appeared in the World Series but received rings.
The only former local player to play in a World Series in the last 50 years was Millville’s Larry Milbourne in 1981. Milbourne played second base while batting .250 (4-for-20) with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored for the Yankees in a six-game loss to the Dodgers.
Local surfers excel
Ocean City High School surfers Cruz Dinofa and James Carr both took home championships earlier this week at the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s Northeast championship in Harvey Cedars.
Dinofa took first place in men’s varsity shortboard while Carr earned top honors in men’s varsity open longboard.
Local NFL update
Sunday’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers marked the second time in as many seasons that brothers Bo and Max Melton (Cedar Creek High School) played against one another.
Bo, a cornerback, wide receiver and returner, averaged 21.5 yards on two kickoff returns for the Packers, who rallied for a 27-23 victory. Max, a cornerback, posted four tackles and a tackle for loss for the Cardinals.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in a 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Austin Johnson (St. Augustine Prep, Galloway Township) had three tackles in a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London.
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had six tackles and a pass defense in a 44-22 win over the Washington Commanders.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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