PHILADELPHIA – Some would say the clock should have begun ticking on Jason Peters’ Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility three years ago when he played his final game for the Philadelphia Eagles.
To turn the Eagles’ offense around, Jalen Hurts needs to address this specific problem.
Peters wouldn’t say that, nor has he.
The offensive tackle keeps on ticking. He will turn 42 next month and is the oldest player in the NFL. On Monday night, as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, he may very well get another chance to block against his former teammates, including Brandon Graham.
“I’m happy for him,” said Graham. “It shows you his love for the game is real, but if you can still play and teams take care of you like I’ve been taken care of here, you can play longer than normal because it’s a different day.”
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Needing a left tackle to take over for Tra Thomas, who had manned the position for 11 years, the Eagles sent three 2009 draft picks to the Buffalo Bills – their first-round selection (No. 28 overall) a fourth-rounder, and a conditional sixth-round choice – on April 17, 2009.
It was a bold but, in the end, genius move.
Peters would spend most of his probable Hall of Fame career with the Eagles. He wore their colors for 11 of his 19 seasons in the NFL, making 148 starts, all at left tackle except for a one or two-game experiment at guard, from 2009 to 2020.
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He made seven Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro twice. Peters left Philly after eight starts in 2020. Before leaving, he had become the longest-tenured Eagles player. That title is now owned by Graham, who arrived in the 2010 draft.
“He was one of the leaders,” said Graham. “We’re the Core Four now (with Graham, Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, and Lane Johnson), but we’d be the Core Five or the Fab Dive if he was still here because he was with us for a long time. Then I took over when he left (as longest-tenured athlete). It’s been cool seeing JP out there and still doing something.”
Peters landed in Chicago in 2021, making 15 starts for the Chicago Bears. He then played 12 games for the Dallas Cowboys the following year, and now, this year in Seattle, he has made two starts in seven games.
“I saw him on tape and playing all this year, I don’t know if there is anything that guy can do that will amaze me more than he already has,” said Kelce. “He has been the most impressive physical athlete I ever played with.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if that guy plays for another decade, to be honest with you. He’s a very, very gifted individual. He’s smart and he loves the game. I’m certainly happy that he’s still doing what he loves.”
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Peters’ snap counts are all over the place this season.
Last week, he played six against the San Francisco 49ers. In Weeks 9 and 10, he played 56 and 53, respectively.
“It shows you his love for the game is real, but if you can still play and teams take care of you like I’ve been taken care of here,” said Graham, “you can play longer than normal because it’s a different day.”
