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We now know that Brandon Graham won’t be leaving the Eagles this offseason since he signed a three-year contract extension to stay in Philadelphia.
Everyone’s pretty happy about this news, including the player himself. Graham had the following to say in an interview with PhiladelphiaEagles.com:
“This is a great feeling for me right now, man. My family and I, we didn’t want to go anywhere else, so to get this done, that’s the best feeling. I’m over here smiling ear to ear. I’ve been doing that since I heard the news.
I talked with my family and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a lot of things I want to accomplish in Philly. I want to get on that wall (at the NovaCare Complex) for the Pro Bowl, I’ve got a couple of things … being there for this long, hopefully, one day I’ll be in the Hall of Fame. I want to do something big in Philly. Right now, I’m just excited because we get to go back and compete. We’ve got unfinished business together as a team.
Staying with the Eagles was the right thing to do. I think this is a great deal. We weren’t too far off before (in negotiations that had previously taken place) and right now I’m just excited. I’ve done well with the money from before and this was done in a way that I can do right with my family and I can go out there and continue my legacy on the field.
They can’t get rid of me! I didn’t want to leave and I’m not leaving. This is where I want to be. I’m so excited, man. I can’t wait to see everyone soon. The Eagles fans, they’ve been great this whole time. I love my relationship with them and what Eagles football means to them. I’m ready. I’m feeling great. I can’t wait to get things rolling.”
Graham also shared this incredibly adorable video of his daughter celebrating on Instagram:
Is that not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?
BG is clearly such a beloved guy. Here’s what his teammates are saying about his new contract:
Let’s go BG!!! https://t.co/5aKefkbdfr
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) March 1, 2019
I love this guy !! Pumped to get @brandongraham55 back!! https://t.co/CMNdTsSbMe
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) March 1, 2019
@brandongraham55 MONEY BAGS!!!! Congrats bro well deserved. pic.twitter.com/MFttrNnFpl
— Brandon Brooks (@bbrooks_79) March 1, 2019
Woke up to the news to hear my dog @brandongraham55 cashed out. “Whole Thaaaannnggg”. Much respect. Let me hold something pic.twitter.com/zc88kyODrA
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) March 1, 2019
BGGGGGGG https://t.co/YsH5ERmwZq
— NG (@NathanGerry) March 1, 2019
Future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas also joined the BG love fest. This is for the “only sacks matter” crowd:
.@brandongraham55 was one of the most underrated players I’ve ever played against. Competing against him for the first time was a total “WOW” moment because he plays so much tougher than the stats show. Congrats on the new deal, well deserved! @Eagles have a great one! https://t.co/aKsT2SmU1r
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) March 1, 2019
Finally, a look at some great BG stories from Bleeding Green Nation alumni Patrick Wall ...
But Brandon Graham was always so nice to everyone, including me. We never really had any huge moments or anything, but a pro athlete being that genial every day was a big help to a kid terrified of being out of his depth at his dream job.
— Patrick Wall (@ByPatrickWall) March 1, 2019
... and Jimmy Kempski:
Thread: My favorite Brandon Graham anecdote was during the 2017 season. When the Eagles were rolling, I made a deal with him that he would let me unblock the thousands and thousands of people he had blocked over the years if the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Sure enough, they did.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
On locker room clean-out day after the Super Bowl victory, I came prepared. I learned about a way you could unblock hundreds of people at a time, because I knew there'd be no way in hell I could unblock everyone one-by-one. I approached BG, and he was true to his word.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
He entered his password on my computer, & gave me access. I unblocked myself first. Then I got to work unblocking everyone, hundreds at a time, and it still took almost an hour. I spent most of my time during our last chance to talk to players for the season unblocking people.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
I don't know exactly how many people I unblocked that day, but it was tens of thousands. One other unintentional funny thing happened. While unblocking people through this weird, computer-nerdy back-end way, a glitch occurred in which his account also FOLLOWED people I unblocked.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
People were tweeting things like, "HOLY SHIT BRANDON GRAHAM UNBLOCKED ME AND THEN FOLLOWED ME." No, he didn't. I did, lol. If you look at his account, he's now following over 4000 people. He doesn't want to be following over 4000 people.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
Anyway, objectivity and whatnot blah blah, but BG is one my favorite player on the team, from a personality standpoint. I was happy for him that he got to be the one to make the big play in the Super Bowl, and I'm personally happy that I still get to cover him.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) March 1, 2019
Brandon Lee Graham: He’s the best.