Nick Foles’ ‘football fable’ lives on
Graham’s advice to former Eagles QB kept him out of retirement
PHILADELPHIA >> Nick Foles left his stamp all over the Eagles, from the coffee concoction he introduced to the quarterbacks to the big games he won, including Super Bowl LII.
There’s a statue of Foles and head coach Doug Pederson in Head House Square at Lincoln Financial Field commemorating the Philly-Philly option pass the quarterback caught for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
The size 16 cleats Foles wore the day he tied the NFL single-game record throwing seven touchdown passes for the Eagles are in Canton, Ohio.
When the Rolling Stones toured Philly, Mick Jagger got a roar from the crowd after telling his audience the band just played in Jacksonville, and that “Nick Foles sends his best wishes.”
Yeah, Foles still is a rock star here. Not surprisingly, there will be man-hugs and pats on backs when the Eagles trek to
Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in the second preseason game for both teams Thursday.
Foles will reportedly not play and it’s not known whether or not Carson Wentz will give it a go, but the Eagles intend to incorporate more starters this week than last.
The Jaguars on the other hand don’t know how fortunate they are to have Foles, who they believe to be their missing piece, having signed him to a fouryear $88 million contract, much of it guaranteed.
Had it not been for Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, the Jaguars might still be trying to fix their quarterback position.
Graham recalled how Foles wanted to say goodbye to football after taking a victory lap in 2018. Beating Tom Brady in the Super Bowl and earning MVP honors in the Super Bowl was satisfying enough. But Foles was concerned about the long-term health of his throwing elbow.
“Nick was going to retire the year he won the Super Bowl,” Graham explained. “You know, because his elbow and everything. He just felt like his elbow wasn’t getting better. He started doing acupuncture. He started doing some stuff that ended up helping him.”
Graham said he first realized Foles was seriously considering a life away from football after they reported to the Eagles following the Super Bowl.
“I was like, ‘man, how you doing, just checking up,’” Graham recalled. “And I remember him saying that he was going to retire after the year because his elbow was messed up. I just went to him and said, ‘you should try acupuncture just to see if it makes you feel better.’ He ended up trying it and it made him feel a little better and then it started progressing. And then Nick, just waiting on his moment and that boy took off. And I’m excited for him. That was nothing but God, I know, because I know he was ready to be done.”
The most recent flight Graham referenced was Foles stepping in for an injured Wentz last season and leading a 6-7 Eagles team to three straight victories, and another playoff appearance.
The Eagles won another playoff game, thanks in no small part to a missed Chicago Bears field goal attempt. They were driving on the New Orleans Saints late in the fourth quarter when Foles’ strike skidded off Alshon Jeffery’s hands for a killer interception.
In Jacksonville, Foles has been reunited with John DeFilippo, the Radnor High and James Madison quarterback who was his quarterbacks coach during the Super Bowl title run. With all due respect, last season the Eagles seriously missed DeFilippo and Frank Reich, the offensive coordinator who left to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Pederson was careful when asked about that duo, lest he step on the toes of current staffers.
“I think there’s definitely familiarity there,” Pederson said. “One of the things that Flip knows is exactly how Nick thinks, how he plays, his style, having gone through it for seven, eight games there at the end of the year. And it is a benefit for a coordinator, a playcaller and a quarterback to be together again or at least for a long period of time.
“I know this: You can have great conversation. You can bounce ideas off each other and you end up thinking alike, so it’s a positive.”
Wentz sat out the first preseason game, one in which backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld fractured his non-throwing wrist late in the first half. Sudfeld is out indefinitely, leaving Wentz dividing the practice snaps with former Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler and rookie fifth-round pick Clayton Thorson.
Wentz said he would be comfortable starting the season without any action in the preseason games, based on his practices against the first-team Eagles defense.
“I think it’s good,” Wentz said of the preseason. “But at the same time, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Foles, on the other hand, could use a preseason game to get on the same page with his new teammates. It would surprise no one if the Jaguars held him out a second straight week.
One way or another it should be a fun reunion for Graham and Foles, who he has the ultimate respect for.
“Look at him now,” Graham said. “Won the Super Bowl. Got him a nice fat contract.
“That’s my favorite story.”