Eagles' Brooks suspects new contract provoked anxiety attack

Philadelphia Eagles offensive guard Brandon Brooks believes the expectations that came from his recent contract extension contributed to the anxiety attack he suffered Sunday.

Brooks, who became the NFL's top-paid guard earlier this month after inking a four-year, $56.5-million deal, exited Sunday's contest versus the Seattle Seahawks with what the team initially called an illness. He later acknowledged that he couldn't continue in the game because of his anxiety.

"I tried to talk myself down about it," he said Tuesday, according to John McMullen of 93.7 ESPN FM. "Like, 'Hey, if you're playing great, just keep doing what you're doing, no issue.' But in talking to my therapist about it, I think also, by talking about it consciously, I think it started to set in my head, like, 'Hey, you got to show everybody you're worth the money.'"

The 30-year-old told reporters "the show goes on," indicating that he plans to play in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.