Vic Fangio’s Brandon Graham admission exposes truth Eagles’ coaches tried to bury

The Philadelphia Eagles' defense has been like a tennis pro stuck in a grueling rally. They were returning every shot but couldn't convert a break point. Game after game, they kept hitting the ball straight into the net on crucial points. The crowd was waiting for that vintage, cross-court winner from a seasoned champion. Instead, the serve kept faulting. Everyone was looking to the sidelines, hoping to see a familiar face pick up a racket.

What the Coaches Hid

Then, the dream became reality. Brandon Graham ended his brief retirement, announcing his return for a 16th season. And head coach Nick Sirianni could finally drop the ongoing act. He confessed exactly what made Graham so special. Sirianni stated on the 94WIP Morning Show. This was the admission fans had waited for. But Sirianni wasn't the only one with a secret.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s previous comments were even more revealing. Just last week, a reporter asked if there had been ongoing conversations about a Graham comeback. Fangio stated, "Not to my knowledge."

This outright denial seemed to shut the door. However, his tone changed dramatically after the return became official.

Fangio then exposed the truth that the coaches had tried to bury. In a press conference, he revealed the talks started months ago. He was asked by a journalist,

"Has this been an ongoing conversation with him? Have you been in communication with him throughout the course of the season or?" Fangio's reply was revealing.

“Well, all the way from the start,”

Fangio said. “I was teasing him not to retire all the way back to last February and March. So yeah, I've run into him and we've talked... I always teased him about it, trying [to] light the fire.”
This admission proved the organization was never truly ready to move on. They were simply managing the news cycle.

And the Eagles' need for Graham is undeniably urgent. Their pass rush is worsening. Injuries have made things for the edge rusher room, while Za’Darius Smith’s sudden retirement created a desperate void. Hence, Graham’s return is a low-risk bet on a legend who knows the system.

Brandon Graham's Locker-Room Currency

His immediate on-field impact is one question. Fangio himself noted, “We'll see. We'll see what kind of shape he's in, what kind of retention he has from last year.”

His role will likely be as a situational pass rusher. But his value transcends the stat sheet. He's also someone who can teach a lot to a room that is relatively young.

BG's voice and relentless positivity are a catalyst. Moreover, his legendary work ethic sets the standard for younger players. He is the living bridge between the Eagles’ past glory and their future aspirations. But this comeback is not a victory lap. Graham would have to put in the hard yards.

In the end, the coaches’ earlier evasiveness was a strategic smokescreen. The desire for Graham’s return was always there, burning quietly from February to October. They needed their energy giver. They needed the man who embodies the spirit of Philadelphia.

Now the tower has its cornerstone back. Graham probably won’t start, but he’ll close. And if he records one more clutch strip-sack? Sirianni can smile, and Howie can clap, but the cameras should pan to Fangio—the guy who never stopped dialing the number the rest of the building wanted desperately.

Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt wants to be called ‘Bill’

Jacorey Croskey-Merritt had an amazing prime-time preseason moment on Monday night against the Bengals. The former Alabama State star ran for a 27-yard touchdown, earning major headlines for his first career score. After the game, he had a very specific request moving forward: call him Bill.

He earned the nickname in his youth due to his short haircut, which reminded people of “Little Bill,” the main character in the animated series created by Bill Cosby.

“I got the nickname Bill from having a bald head when I was little,” Croskey-Merritt explained while playing for Arizona last season while playing for Arizona. “I used to have a low haircut, so people joked on me and said I looked like the character Little Bill. So it just stuck with me.”

Merritt is also serious about the request. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, when Croskey-Merritt is mentioned on TV broadcasts, he wants to be referred to as “Bill.”

Based on the skills he displayed on Monday as well as throughout his playing career, his name will be called plenty of times in the NFL. Merritt played four seasons at Alabama State, including one season affected by COVID-19. Throughout his career, he accumulated 1,164 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 31 games.

He later joined New Mexico, quickly becoming a crucial player for the Lobos. Over 12 games, he tallied 1,190 rushing yards on 189 carries, scoring 17 rushing touchdowns. He also contributed with seven receptions for 72 yards and another touchdown. A highlight of his season was during New Mexico’s 25-17 win against Fresno State, where his game-tying run grabbed attention and made headlines.

He later transferred to Arizona, where he played just one game for the Wildcats. In that game, he rushed for 106 yards and scored a touchdown on 13 attempts, ironically against New Mexico. However, due to eligibility issues stemming from an NCAA discrepancy involving his jersey number 21—reassigned to another player after he redshirted as a freshman at Alabama State in 2019—he was limited to only one game.

The one game was all he needed to get his call-up to the next level. This Spring, he was drafted in the 7th round of the NFL Draft with the 255th overall pick by the Commanders. Now, “Bill” looks to find himself high on the Commanders’ depth chart as they look to copy their immense success from last season.