When the season ended, Ed Jasper looked at his life and figured that his time in the NFL was over. After all, he's got a successful construction business and with the wide array of injuries that he battled over the past couple seasons, it seemed like the right thing to do.
Then, he rethought the whole idea.
On Thursday, Jasper signed a one-year contract with the Eagles, after playing in Oakland this past season. If his name sounds familiar, it should. Jasper was originally drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 1997 Draft and played 17 games over two seasons with the Eagles and noted that he left the team on good terms. "I never leave anywhere on bad terms. I had opportunities somewhere else at the time, now my opportunity is to come back here and try to win a championship. It took me seven years of wandering around to realize that, but I will take a ring where I can get it," said the newest Eagle. Most of Jasper's career was spent in Atlanta, before he signed with Oakland for the 2005 season.
The 33-year old Jasper (6-2, 295) has appeared in a total of 118 games, starting 60, and has notched 402 tackles, 17.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries.
While he's been tough against the run, Jasper believes that he could help the Eagles downtrodden pass rush. "Up until last year, I was always a run stopper, but I played on all the 3rd down situations, always the guy who was going to take on the double team, always playing the draw, but last year I had the chance to play a little more as a pass rusher. I was still the double team guy, but wherever they need help. I can do that," said Jasper.
Jasper joins Shawn Barber as former Eagles to return to the team this off-season. "I spent last year with [Raiders DE Derrick] Burgess out in Oakland and he misses this place too. He had noting but good things to say about this organization and the city," reported Jasper.