Eagles' Brandon Graham had ominous response to CPOY snub

This season, Graham was a menace for opposing quarterbacks as part of the Eagles' stout defense. The 13-year veteran recorded a career-high 11 sacks following a return from a torn Achilles, which forced him to miss 15 games in 2021. One of four Eagles to finish with double-digit sacks, Graham ended the year tied with Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave for second on the team behind Haason Reddick (16). 

The 34-year-old was also impactful when not getting to the quarterback. Graham tied Reddick for second on the Eagles in tackles for loss (11), only four behind Sweat's team-high 15. 

Behind Graham and others, the Philadelphia defense ranked second in the NFL in yards allowed per game (301.4) and led the league in passing yards against (179.6) and yards per play (4.8). 

The finalists for CPOY, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Geno Smith, are all worthy. However, it's a surprise not to see Graham's name among the candidates, especially since this could be his last hurrah with the team that drafted him 13th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. 

A free agent at the end of the season, Graham's future with the Eagles is uncertain. If this is Graham's last ride in Philly, missing out on the CPOY award is disappointing, but helping bring home another Lombardi Trophy would be quite the consolation prize. 

Graham wasn't the only Eagle to get snubbed for a regular-season award. Despite finishing first in the NFL in forced fumbles (5) and second in the league in sacks (16), Reddick didn't find himself among the Defensive Player of the Year candidates. According to CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr, Reddick is only the third player since 2000 to register 16 or more sacks, five forced fumbles, 25 quarterback hits and three pass defenses, joining T.J Watt (2018, 2021), and Chandler Jones (2019).