PHILADELPHIA -- Seth Joyner and Keith Byars both "re-signed" with
Philadelphia on Monday, then promptly retired, forever to be known as Eagles.
Joyner played eight of his 13 NFL seasons with the Eagles and Byars played seven of his 13 seasons in Philadelphia.
"They were the most memorable years of my career," said Joyner, a linebacker who was an eighth-round draft pick by Philadelphia in 1986. He played with the Eagles until after the 1993 season and then signed with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent. He also played with Green Bay and Denver.
"I've always been a Philadelphia Eagle," he said.
Byars was a first-round pick in 1986 and the Eagles chose him despite head coach Buddy Ryan calling the running back a "medical reject" in the days leading up to the draft.
"I think I did OK for being a medical reject," said Byars, who left the Eagles after the 1992 season and also played for the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and New England Patriots.
He still ranks fourth among the Eagles' in career receptions with 371 behind only Harold Carmichael (589), Pete Retzlaff (451) and Pete Pihos (373).
"Even when I left the Eagles, my heart was always in Philadelphia," Byars said.
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