The best left tackle in the league is staying in Philadelphia. One year removed from a season lost to a torn and re-torn Achilles and months removed from a demonstratively impressive bounceback season that saw him start 16 games and earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, Jason Peters made sure Wednesday that he'll be paving the way for Chip Kelly's high-octane offense for years to come.
With Peters entering the final year of his contract, he and the Eagles agreed on a new five-year deal that will keep the 32-year-old in midnight green until 2018.
"There aren't many people cut from the same cloth as Jason Peters," said head coach Chip Kelly. "To be able to bounce back from two Achilles injuries and return to an All-Pro level speaks not only to his incredible athleticism, but proves just how hard he works at his game. Having him at left tackle provides a lot of comfort to our quarterback and to our entire offense. He's a guy that many players look up to in our locker room."
Peters, of course, originally joined the Eagles in 2009 via trade after five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where he was transformed from an undrafted tight end to a Pro Bowl left tackle. Upon joining the Eagles, Peters made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons before the injury that kept him out of the 2012 season.
"Jason is everything you look for in a left tackle," said Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. "The unique blend of size, speed and athleticism that Jason possesses is something that everyone wants in an offensive lineman. However, what really makes him unique is his desire to improve day in and day out despite the fact that he's played at an elite level for so many years. We are truly rewarding Jason's excellence, as he's a guy who has made six Pro Bowl appearances and has been selected an All-Pro five times. We're excited to be able to keep him in Philadelphia for years to come."
A year after the Eagles offensive line was ravaged by injury in 2012, Peters helped lead a return to dominance for the five men up front. Peters, along with Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans and rookie first-round pick Lane Johnson started all 16 games together as they paved the way for LeSean McCoy's franchise-best 1,607 rushing yards and a franchise-best 442 points scored on the season.
Peters is a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro selection (twice earning first-team honors) and, with his four Pro Bowl selections as an Eagles, he is the second-most decorated offensive lineman in franchise history, behind only Chuck Bednarik, who garnered eight Pro Bowl nods.
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