"Already threw me under the bus," Graham said of his critics. "It's just motivation for me because I know what I can do, and I know I'm going to do it when it's time."
Allen had arguably the worst game of his career on Sunday against the Patriots. Graham was inactive for the second straight week under mysterious circumstances. And then, just to remind Eagles fans what they could have had instead of the two, Thursday's game at Seattle awaits.
The Seahawks, like the Eagles, are 4-7, a not-yet-dead team playing out its final stretch of games. But they have Earl Thomas. He is not yet a Pro Bowl safety - he may never be - but he is good and has shown the kind of progress Allen and Graham have yet to show - or have yet to have the opportunity to show - because of injuries.
The Eagles could have had Thomas. When they traded up 11 spots in the first round of the 2010 draft, the Texas product was still on the board. It was no secret the Eagles were in need of a safety after Macho Harris did very little to fill the giant shoes of Brian Dawkins in 2009.
But the team had other plans. The Eagles, to some surprise, took Graham with the 13th overall pick. The Seahawks then snagged Thomas with the next pick, and the New York Giants grabbed South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, he of 101/2 sacks this season, at No. 15.
The following day, the Eagles selected Allen, a highly regarded teammate of Pierre-Paul's at South Florida, with the fifth pick in the second round. That selection will always be known as the Donovan McNabb pick. The Eagles received the 37th overall selection and a 2011 fourth-round pick from the Redskins in exchanged for their one-time franchise quarterback.
"The Donovan thing is in the past," Allen said when asked about any additional pressure that comes with being part of that trade.
