It didn't seem to be a concern for Bunkley, the Florida State defensive tackle the Eagles selected 14th overall in the 2006 draft.
"I heard some things and some guys called with some stuff, like eight out of 11 people who hold out are unsuccessful in the league or something like that," Bunkley said on Aug. 8, 2006, the day he had his first training camp practice as an Eagle. "But, if you know how to play football, you just got to go out there and do what you do.
"It's just getting the mental part down. So, once you just know that you have to spend extra time studying while other guys are chilling and relaxing, you have to spend your time in the playbook.
"So, there is some catching up to do, and I think I'll be fine."
Bunkley wasn't fine. He had an invisible rookie season, contributing little to the Eagles' effort.
Jump forward to Sunday.
The Eagles are 0-2 and in a "must-win" game against the Detroit Lions.
The team desperately needs something good to happen quickly, something that they and 67,570 edgy Eagle fans at Lincoln Financial Field can rally around.
On the first offensive play of the game, Lions quarterback Jon Kitna drops back to pass. Bunkley blows through the guys trying to block him, engulfs Kitna and drops him for a 7-yard loss.
It's the first sack of Bunkley's career and the first of nine the Birds would register in their 56-21 shellacking of the Lions.
With two sacks, a career-high four tackles and two more quarterback hits, Bunkley's play against Detroit was his breakout game. But the truth is that the he has been a force to deal with in all three of the Eagles games this season.
It's not all about statistics with defensive tackles.
By keeping offensive linemen engaged and forcing teams to account for him, Bunkley is helping free up other Eagle defenders allowing them to do their thing.
