5 minutes with ... Juqua Parker
POSITION: Left defensive end
HEIGHT, WEIGHT: 6-2, 250
AGE: 30
BIRTHDATE: May 15, 1978
HOMETOWN: Houston
COLLEGE: Oklahoma State
YEARS PRO: 8
HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent in 2005.
THIS YEAR: Is second on the team (behind Trent Cole) with five sacks and fifth with 63 tackles. Scored the first touchdown of his career with a 55-yard interception return at San Francisco in Week 6.
CAREER: Parker was signed by Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He registered five sacks in 43 games for the Titans before signing with the Eagles.
AS A YOUNG PLAYER: Was close to former Titans and Eagles teammate Jevon Kearse, who Parker eventually succeeded. "I learned to be dedicated to the work. Coming into the league young, I pretty much didn't understand things. I took some things for granted.
WHAT'S IN A NAME? Legally changed his name from Juqua Thomas prior to the season fulfilling a request made by his father, who passed away in 2005.
BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION OF NFL PLAYERS: "Some people think we're like gods. But we're normal people. We do normal people things."
AFTER HIS FIRST CONTRACT: Bought a diamond wrist watch for himself that's "all iced out. It was a gift to myself for my accomplishment."
DID YOU KNOW?: Since 2006 and including playoffs, Parker is third among undrafted players with 17.5 sacks. Pittsburgh's Jerome Harrison and Chicago's Adewale Ogunleye have 22 each.
