Why No One Doubts Eagles' Jason Peters Will Be His Normal Freakish Self

Jason Peters is a freak. 

He's 36 years old, coming off a season that ended with a torn ACL, and not one damn person inside the NovaCare Complex is doubting that he'll play at a Pro Bowl level this season. 

"J.P. is one of those guys," said Darren Sproles, who is in a uniquely similar position. "He's a freak. The stuff I see him do, that keeps me going." 

It's amazing that not many folks on the team or in the building have even comprehended the possibility of Peters' not playing to his normal Pro Bowl level. It's just sort of assumed that as long as he is healthy, he's going to be a great left tackle. That, more than anything, might be the best testament to his greatness. 

Most people know Peters' story by now. He was a tight end in college at Arkansas before making his way into the NFL as an undrafted rookie. He then built a career as a perennial Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer, getting even better once he got to Philly. 

Then in 2012, at age 30, he tore his Achilles tendon and two months later tore it again. Some thought the injury might be career-ending. He missed the entire 2012 season, but came back the following year and promptly made the next four Pro Bowls. 

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Now, even at 36, there aren't many doubting he'll be able to do it again. 

"He's been through so much and overcame so much, this is just one thing that he'll overcome," Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks said. "Every obstacle he's come across, he's conquered. I guess that's why nobody doubts he'll be back." 

There used to be a ton of people who doubted Peters. Those people haven't existed in years. 

Peters, who doesn't talk to reporters very often, said earlier this training camp that he simply wasn't going to retire after an injury-shortened season, especially after waiting that long to get to the Super Bowl and being forced to be a spectator. His doctor told him it would take a year to fully heal, but said, "I don't listen to that stuff." Yeah, he's a freak. 

Every year for the past few it seems the question surrounding Peters is about retirement. Will he retire soon? Is this the final year? How long can he keep it going? To those questions, Peters always says the same thing. He's not sure, calling himself year to year. 

Earlier this summer Peters said he would need to be kicked out of the league to leave. He was joking - we think. 

There's no one more respected on the team than "The Bodyguard." That was pretty evident last year when the entire team gathered as he was carted off the field against Washington last October. Peters has earned that respect throughout his 15-year career. That's probably another reason no one doubts him. 

At practice over the last few weeks, Peters hasn't gotten a ton of reps. He doesn't need them. Instead, the Eagles are choosing to rest the oldest player on their roster. He isn't going to play at all in this preseason; Halapoulivaati Vaitai takes his post at left tackle. But "Big V" knows he's just a placeholder until the Hall of Famer returns. 

Over the years, Peters has learned to take care of his body and the Eagles have learned to keep him fresh, worrying about preparing him for Week 1. 

But when Peters does get a rare rep, he still looks great. 

"It doesn't really surprise me," left guard Stefen Wisniewski said. "He's such an elite athlete. Even if he lost a step - and I'm not saying he has, I don't think he has - he would still be more athletic than mostly everybody else. You wouldn't even really notice."

That's a fair point. Even just 80 percent of peak Peters would still be better than a lot of tackles around the NFL. But no one expects that. No one seems to doubt that Peters will come back and be great.   

I asked Sproles why there aren't any doubters. 

"He's a freak," he said with a smile. "He's a freak."

Yup. That about clears that up. 

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