PHILADELPHIA − None of this was supposed to happen for Za'Darius Smith.

Not the NFL career that is in its 11th season at the age of 33. Not the 69.5 career sacks, including a half-sack in Smith's first game as an Eagle, on Sept. 14, in the Eagles' 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Not the three Pro Bowl selections. And certainly not the $83.5 million in career earnings, with the potential for about $9 million more with the Eagles . Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets

That's because as a teenager, Smith was going to be a basketball player.

"The next Shaq," as Smith referred to his teenage self. So he repeatedly turned down the high school coach begging him to play football, beginning when Smith was still in middle school.

He kept telling the coach, Ben Blackmon, that he was "a hoop

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