Curry feeling comforted, comfortable after brother’s COVID death
Every day, as he takes his virus test, he is convinced it all will work.
Every time he dresses at what he describes as a more socially distant NovaCare Complex, he is comfortable.
Every time his temperature is gauged, he is confident that it is accurate and that it will lead to a full and satisfying season of NFL games. Every time.
“It seemed to be working,” he said. “So it was just a no-brainer. And I still wanted to play.”
So he signed another contract with the Eagles, Vinny Curry did, the fifth one in a grand collection. He signed and he reported to work and he is ready to engage in a fully padded training camp beginning next week.
One other thing: If anyone had a reason to call it a career, or opt out of the NFL’s version of bubble life, or to just be socially careful until the virus cleared, Vinny Curry was the one.
It was in May, and it came with little warning. All Curry knew was that Dr. Gerald Glisson, his strong half-brother, 6-feet-5 and 300 pounds and once highly proficient in basketball and football, was suddenly, dramatically ill.
Soon after, he died, a victim of the coronavirus at46.
“It took over quickly,” Curry was saying Thursday, during a break in his offseason workouts. “It went from a regular upper respiratory infection to the point where he couldn’t walk to the bathroom. He went to the hospital and the rest.” He paused. “It’s crazy how it can happen that fast.”
It can happen and it has happened and to Vinny Curry, naturally, there was a concern that it could happen again. So there he was, through the strangest of NFL offseasons, eligible to be a free agent, yet unwilling to make any commitments. Understandably in mourning over a brother 14 years older than himself; a man he looked up to his entire life. Curry was professionally frozen.
“I was sitting there, stunned,” he said, “like a deer in the headlights.”
Curry’s initial indication was to not sign a contract anywhere. Though he was coming off a good season, his consistency helping the Eagles win the NFC East, he was 32 and wealthy, a reward from the $27 million contract he once signed with Tampa Bay, then the $47 million package he accepted in 2016 to return to the Eagles. He’s been a Super Bowl champion. He’s been popular. He’s been professionally fulfilled.
So, he waited. And he waited some more. He drew some strength from contact with his Eagles teammates, over the phone, in texts. He appreciated their compassion.
“I just thought I’d take some time away from the game,” he said. “Then, I started to get the itch.”
Though he never developed as quite the force that was often expected, his eight-year career has been defined by his consistency. He typically produces anywhere from 25 to 40 tackles a season, provides five to nine sacks, rarely is injured. He knows the system and works well with Doug Pederson and Jim Schwartz. He’s a good teammate.
Since he didn’t want to go anywhere else, the pass-rushing defensive end would sign a four-year deal with the Eagles in May, late for a free agent. Still, he had concerns. Who wouldn’t, given his grief? Yet when he was educated in the NFL’s safety protocols, and when he saw how they were being followed, and when he saw they seemed to be working, he was comfortable enough and bordering on excited to give it a try.
“Oh, man, it’s phenomenal,” Curry said. “The whole protocol is phenomenal. There’s testing every single day. The way the lockers are spread out, the showers, the whole layout, it’s great. This is just very, very comfortable.
“You can exhale and just worry about football.”
Curry started two games last season, producing five sacks and 20 solo tackles. The Eagles are thick with solid defensive ends, including projected starters Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham, with Curry and Josh Sweat high in the mix and 2019 fourth-round pick Shareef Miller ready to turn his impatience into production. So he does have some football to worry about.
“I think competition is really good for the room,” said Eagles defensive line coach Matt Burke. “With the approach to bringing Vinny back, I’m excited. He’s a high-energy guy. He’s done a good job for the Eagles.
“We have a lot of depth there. I think it’s just going to be, ‘Hey, we’re all going to be able to get an opportunity.’ We’re looking for guys who can be threedown players. Obviously, we want guys who can rush the passer, but there’s also an element of guys who can set edges in the run game and play hard and do all those things. So the more, the merrier, in terms of competition. And none of them are backing down from the challenge of saying, ‘Hey, I am going to go earn this spot.’”
For months, Curry wasn’t sure if he was that motivated. But that urge to play was real. And so was his belief that the league has provided the structure for a safe work environment.
“You see the guys in the league came up with a solution,” Curry said. “And then you see the way baseball is and basketball in its bubble. Then NFL started coming up with our own little bubbles for training camp.”
That was enough for him to return.
“Obviously,” he said, “I still want to play.”
Given his particular situation, that was obvious indeed.