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Eagles Legend Writing Dangerous Checks for 2025

Eagles Legend Writing Dangerous Checks for 2025

Yahoo8 hours ago

Eagles Legend Writing Dangerous Checks for 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
During his 14-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Graham was known throughout the league as one of the game's biggest trash-talkers.
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It endeared him to Eagles fans worldwide, as did his heroics on two Super Bowl teams.
Now, months after his retirement, if fans thought they heard the last of Graham's entertaingly big mouth, they are sadly mistaken.
In a video showing Graham speaking to "Janky Rondo" on Instagram, the Pro Bowl edge rusher spoke out about the Eagles' chances of winning back-to-back NFC East titles this season.
While Graham did make it clear that the Washington Commanders would be in Philadelphia's way in the division, he also threw some shots at Deebo Samuel - Washington's newest receiver.
"It's going to be between us two," Graham said of the Eagles and the Commanders. "I wouldn't worry about him (Samuel). He gotta be in shape first—he don't look like he in shape right now."
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Samuel has dealt with chatter about his weight over the last few seasons, even before he was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Commanders in March.
But Graham's comments are dangerous.
In three career games against Philadelphia, Samuel has recorded 13 catches for over 244 yards and three scores. All three scores came during the last meeting between him and the Eagles - a 42-19 blowout by the 49ers.
Samuel is not yet proven to be some aged veteran who has obviously lost his burst. He remains - assuming healthy - an extremely dangerous and physical player any time he touches the ball.
So …
All Graham is doing is adding attention for himself and adding fuel to the fire for Philadelphia's two games against Washington this season.
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Unlike past years, Graham won't be on the field to cash the checks his hyperactive mouth writes.
That'll be up to his former team, and the Eagles therefore can't be too thrilled with his comments.
Related: 'Overlooked' Rookie Poised As Next Late-Round Gem in Eagles Roster Pipeline
Related: Eagles All-Pro Sounds Off On 'Evolution' of Nick Sirianni
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Phillies takeaways: Relief for bullpen, offseason additions underwhelm, and a late-season move?
Phillies takeaways: Relief for bullpen, offseason additions underwhelm, and a late-season move?

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They'd also avoid the punishing restrictions that teams face when they cross the second apron, including not being able to aggregate contracts in trades and having their first-round draft pick seven years in the future becoming ineligible to be traded. However, not having access to the non-taxpayer MLE could prove costly when it comes to retaining one of their two key free agents. Key Free Agents Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele are the Sixers' top two free agents. The Sixers have repeatedly expressed confidence in their ability to re-sign Grimes, but keeping Yabusele could be far more complicated. Grimes is a restricted free agent, which means the Sixers have the right to match any offer sheet that he signs with another team. They also have full Bird rights on him, so they can re-sign him to anything up to a max contract. He's reportedly "looking for a contract that averages $25 million per season," according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, but the cap-space environment around the league could make it challenging for him to get that. The Brooklyn Nets are currently the only team that could offer Grimes more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. However, they seem far more likely to use that cap space to absorb contracts in trades. That might leave Grimes without significant leverage in negotiations, although he could always accept his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 instead. Yabusele is the far bigger concern from the Sixers' perspective. They only have non-Bird rights him, which means they can't offer him a starting salary higher than 120% of a veteran-minimum contract unless they sign him with another salary-cap exception. 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Although they can't purchase more fortune on the health front, they could at least insulate themselves better against the disaster scenario that unfolded last year. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

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