Philadelphia Eagles guard Brandon Brooks has played extremely well thus far this season. In just his second season with Philadelphia after moving on from Houston, Brooks actually earned a Pro Bowl nod.
He’s one of six members of this 12-2 squad to receive that high individual honor. But as the Eagles look to clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs, Brooks is seemingly looking back to a darker time in his tenure in Philly when unnamed members of the team didn’t have his back.
“Let’s be real,” Brooks said, via Penn Live. “When I was going through the anxiety stuff, not everybody had my back. But, at the same time, it’s interesting to me now. You know, the Pro Bowl is here, and the same people that didn’t support me … now are going to pat me on the back. Let it be understood that although you forgive, you never forget.”
As the report notes, Brooks was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder last year — his first in Philadelphia. Apparently, some within the locker room were not supportive of him as he was going through this life-altering situation.
“Adversity makes you stronger,” Brooks continued. “Probably the biggest thing is, you realize quickly who’s in your corner, who’s always going to have your back. And you know, it just makes you aware of what’s real and what’s not.”
Brooks refused to mention the names of players. It’s in this that any hard feelings will likely be dealt with internally.
As far as the 2017, it’s gone swimmingly for Brooks and the Eagles. Head coach Doug Pederson has been praised for a change of culture within the locker room. And that could very well have helped Brooks overcome his anxiety issues to turn in the best season of his career.