Adrian Fedkiw
First of all, it’s semi-miraculous that Brandon Brooks is even playing at a high level coming off an Achilles rupture less than a year ago.
But forget about the high level, he’s been the best damn guard in the NFL.
AND HE’S COMING OFF AN ACHILLES RUPTURE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.
Just making sure I’m loud enough for the people in the back. I also want to make sure I’m loud enough for those who don’t usually pay attention to the big uglies in between the trenches. Brooks has been an absolute terminator and his spanking brand new four-year extension is more than well deserved.
Shake on it. 🤝#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/F0RCgPdjKF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 11, 2019
Brooks’ deal makes him the highest paid guard in the NFL. The contract is worth $56.5 million with $30 million guaranteed. The $14.05 million average per season surpasses Dallas’ Zach Martin, whose monster six-year, $84-million pact that he inked last season is worth $14 million annually.
#FlyEaglesFly #LetsFly wanted to take a minute and share my thoughts pic.twitter.com/8v45YzHcDU
— Brandon Brooks (@bbrooks_79) November 11, 2019
The Eagles’ offensive line will now be in tact until at least 2021, which is when Jason Kelce’s and Johnson’s deals expire. Jason Peters’ heir apparent at left tackle Andre Dillard is in Philly until 2022, as is left guard Isaac Seumalo.
Brooks, who has been the NFL’s highest rated guard by Pro Football Focus this year with a 93.4 grade, hasn’t allowed a sack and has surrendered just four total pressures. He’s also been a roadgrader in the running game, whether it’s been pushing people back off the ball, pulling along the boundaries or double-teaming with Lane Johnson off the right side. He’s been overwhelming defenses.
And this is again coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon that he suffered in Philadelphia’s playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints last season in the NFC Divisional Round.
“Since the day he walked into the building, he’s been a consummate Eagle,” Howie Roseman said. “You just see that with everything he does on and off the field. Certainly, you’re talking about a player who is the best at his position in the National Football League, a guy who gets hurt in the Divisional Round playoff game and who works his butt off to get back for this season’s opener. He means so much to our football team and our organization and I’m extremely proud to have him with us going forward.”
Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland described Brooks’ year so far as the “best season of his life.”
“The way he embraced that whole situation and fought through all adversity and came back with such a positive attitude, I never saw him down in the tank, worrying about him or ‘why me?’ or any of that,” Stoutland said. “The approach that he had was always positive and always ‘My mission is to get back for that first game.’ He was able to do that, and he’s having the best season of his life.”
Brooks thinks he’s playing his best football too.
“I think I’m playing my best football,” Brooks said. “My confidence is where it needs to be. Back when I was battling the anxiety deal, and even today I battle it, I used to tell myself that I was good enough, that I deserved to be out here with these guys. Now, it’s more or less, why not be a guy who can be one of the all-time greats? Why not me? You know what I mean? Now, it’s not just that I’m good enough to be out there on the field. Now, it’s I’m good enough to be one of the best.”
One of the all-time greats, huh?
Why not.