PURE BLUE blanketed the Philadelphia sky on a Wednesday morning in late July. Eagles defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao walked toward the practice field at the NovaCare Complex. As he neared a line of faint white paint, the back of an end zone, he slowed and dropped to his left knee, his fist balled and resting on his forehead. He stayed in the crouch for 15 seconds. His teammates kept walking to his left and his right. Then Vaeao pushed off the ground and strapped on his helmet.
This has been his routine since he started playing football in high school.