Brian Dawkins' Number Retirement: When?
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Brian Dawkins' Number Retirement: When?
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
No Eagle will ever again wear No. 20, that should be obvious. The Eagles would neither present a young player with that kind of burden nor annoy the fans by presuming to hand it out like just another piece of laundry. So, the question is when they will make it official, and retire the number with the proper ceremony.
I remain on record as saying that losing Brian Dawkins to Denver in free agency was unfortunate but not surprising, and that it was a combined decision by the team and the player -- and a product of an exorbitant offer from the Broncos. (We still don't know exactly what the Eagles offered. If we find that offer was criminally low for a player of Dawkins' franchise stature, we'll revisit the issue.)
Anyway, how should the Eagles handle honoring Dawkins' career? The Broncos come to Lincoln Financial Field this season, although we won't know until next month if the visit is early in the schedule or late. If they had real courage in the matter, the Eagles would announce right now that the number will be retired before that game, whenever it is.
The risk, of course, is that the Eagles are playing poorly at that juncture, the Broncos are playing well, and the fans are given the opportunity to fry the home team as they are toasting Dawk. And, given that set of circumstances, who would hand the jersey to Dawkins at midfield? Andy Reid? Jeff Lurie?
Maybe you take the easy way out and have all the members of the Eagles' defense go to midfield to meet Dawkins and collectively present him the jersey. That would be poignant, a lot of hugging and such. But it would still be an unpleasant reminder of what used to be.
If you could guarantee the organization right now that the Eagles will have a very good record when Denver comes to town, the Broncos just so-so, and maybe Dawk is missing a game here or there with little ankle problems or something, they would make the announcement today. They would be able to get closure, make No. 20 the eighth number retired by the team (the others: 15- Steve Van Buren, 40- Tom Brookshier, 44- Pete Retzlaff, 60- Chuck Bednarik, 70- Al Wistert, 92- Reggie White, 99- Jerome Brown) and move on.
It might be they intend to wait no matter what, and not pick at what is obviously a very sore spot for the fans. They could wait until Dawkins officially retires, and bring him back in street clothes for the ceremony.
But it would be a lot more effective, and a lot more meaningful to Dawkins probably, if they went ahead and did it this year. That would be risky, but as Harry Callahan would no doubt advise the owner, "You've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky?"
Well, do they?
Comments (50)
Prediction:-The Eagles won't retire his number.The organization doesn't believe in retiring players numbers. look what lonewolf wrote. They won't do it.— Eaglejay
Comment removed.- Nope! If it's done, then let him retire first. Who knows? He may come back and sign a 1-day contract to retire as an Eagle!— Kevie Kev
- Retire Bob Ford.— Gino D.
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- lonewolf, you kind of took a dump in the bed by suggesting that Cunningham's number be retired. He played on the same team that had Jerome Brown AND Reggie White. He was sacked 484 times in his career. Fewer pro bowls, 5-7 in playoffs, And you have the gall to ride McNabb? Sheesh. Cunningham was exciting, just like Michael Vick. Exciting and good aren't synonyms.— psv
- Cunningham needed more "weapons"— JamesJ
- Concrete Charlie wins in a blow out!!!— DerbyBound
- Hey Bob. Wake up. Unlike other sports, numbers in football don't get retired. It may be a while before the number gets reassigned but it will never be permanently gone. Just look around the NFL and you will see special teams players wearing HOF numbers. There are just too many players and too few numbers. Of course being a professional journalist you already knew that!— sdlmedford
Let's see: The team has an extreme amount of cap space, has an important draft upcoming, and could still have a brewing situation with their current (and only) viable QB - yet we're talking about a FORMER player and commenting on nothing more than a "pulling your heart strings Sunday Story." Wait until Dawk retires and then revisit the situation (Fade off to "Feelings")...- They should retire his number at the beginning of next season, after he's cut by the Broncos for salary cap reasons.— mjb
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- Banner = Pablo the Pool Boy— GoCowboys
The Three stooges are proven to be classless and will delay retiring Dawk's #20 as long as they can out of spite and jealousy (yes even a billionaire needs to feel loved) for the mutual passion between Dawk and the city. Hopefully these carpetbaggers cash in and move on so we can celebrate Dawk's #20 retirement without the Three stooges setting the agenda.— Earl J- Comment removed.
- I don't live in the city. I have been a Eagles fan since I was 10 years old, so I've got 38 years of Pain. I been asked why are you a eagle fan? I LIKE PAIN. Jeffery and Joe had to be the two bigget nerds in school. Now Jeffery is a billionaire and ferret face Joe has made him that. The number 20 will be retired when Brian Dawkins pays the 8 million dollars the eagles owe Philadephia. Hey what would have been the score of the super bowl at half time if 5 didn't throw 2 int's in the end zone. 34-3 Eagles. Good bye 5 go choke some place else!— JBarish
- Bendnarik is a bitter old man. He would be lucky to play in the special teams if he played in this era.— GoCowboys
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- The Beagles are classless and a non-entity in town. Who cares? I will spend my Sundays in the Fall watching Phillies playoff and World Series games. Lurie and Pablo the Pool Boy (Banner) are nobodies— GoCowboys
- Without a doubt, #25 Tommy McDonald's number should be retired! It's too bad some of you young people never saw him play, he was great. That's why he's in the Hall Of Fame!— fred13
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- LET'S RENAME THE CITY DAWKADELPHIA!!!!— NickEeee
- I know they have to sell newspapers, but can the Philly sports writers leave behind the fact that Dawkins left. Certainly, management could have shown more love to a true warrior at the end of his career, but in the end I think the fans just want someone who can cover the deep part of the field. We all know Dawk couldn't do that anymore -- so can we give the story a rest, at least until summer camp.— fgdavis
"No Eagle will ever again wear No. 20, that should be obvious." With this emotionless crew of robots at the top, nothing is obvious. Mike Quick overrated!!!!!????? Are you insane? He's one of the most underrated (outside Philly) receivers. Did you ever see him play. Make deep catches, that when the ball left the QB's hand you thought it was 20 yards past him, and somehow he lunges and pull him in. Once he made such an unbelievable catch, the crowd barely cheered at first, we were so stunned. It's amazing that there's a percentage of people here who know NOTHING about the Eagles.— COskier- Comment removed.
- sfeagle talking about cunningham "He had the best D in the league and could not get it done"...last I checked, Cunningham played offense...so having the best D doesnt always matter. The fact of the matter with Cunningham is, he never had weapons around him. Why do you think he HAD to run as often as he did? He had fred barnett and calvin williams to throw to, thats why. This team hasnt had a weapon at WR (TO doesnt count) since Carmichael, and we all want to sit back and blame our QB's. Any great hall of fame quarterback has had a number one reciever to throw to. Montana had Rice and Taylor, Manning had Harrison and Wayne, Brady has had some of the best recieving corps, Bradshaw had Lynn Swann, Franco Harris at running back...These quarterbacks all played on teams with excellent running attacks as well. The same thing with Mcnabb...noone to throw to, no running game and we still blame him. Cunningham is in the same boat. If you disagree, just go look at his stats and highlights from his first year in Minnesota throwing to Randy Moss. He was the runner up MVP that season.— glackattak
- "No Eagle will ever again wear No. 20, that should be obvious." With this emotionless crew of robots at the top, nothing is obvious. Mike Quick overrated!!!!!????? Are you insane? He's one of the most underrated (outside Philly) receivers. Did you ever see him play. Make deep catches, that when the ball left the QB's hand you thought it was 20 yards past him, and somehow he lunges and pull him in. Once he made such an unbelievable catch, the crowd barely cheered at first, we were so stunned. It's amazing that there's a percentage of people here who know NOTHING about the Eagles.— COskier
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- I never realized Mcdonald wasnt on the list. What a travesty!!!!!!— seanpat50
- If Reggie White, Joe Montana, Unitas, Favre etc. can leave their respective teams, so can Dawkins. It is painful now that he has gone to another team. The pain, embarrasment, and confusion would have been twice as bad at the end of next season if the Eagles would have had to bench or cut the Dawk for diminishing skills. The Eagles ARE a class organization who will bring Dawkins back for a respectful reirement celebration when the time comes. Lonewolf, I thought you had made some occasional enlightening comments but you have blown up any credibility with your thoughts on Dawkins.— tommy_the_k
- Dick Ford. He fled Eagle Green. Fawk Duckins. Oh, I forgot, he cared about the community, Git the...— seph
- agreed on the cold , heartless organization. I know someone who did an internship w/ them, and he flat out told me that when passing Joe Banner in the hallway, "DO NOT TALK TO HIM, AND DON'T EVEN LOOK AT HIM". This kid thought it was a joke, and while passing, said hello, and he said Banner looked at him, like "Who the bleep are you?", didn't respond , and just kept walking on.— solexy
- This is a fine article and all, but why is this the top headline on the website on a day when there's so much going on in Philly sports? You've got Temple winning the A-10 tourney, both Temple and 'Nova waiting to hear where they'll be placed in the NCAA tourney bracket, and the Flyers in action against the Rangers in the weeks leading up to the playoffs. Even the headline that Utley is starting his first Grapefruit game today is at least news. With so much going on in the city, why is this piece--which could have been posted on any slow news day--the headline on the website? This isn't a criticism of Mr. Ford--it's a criticism of the people doing the layout for the website, who continually play down the important things happening in the city sports scene on any given day in favor of these short pieces on the Eagles (who, by the way, won't lace up again in a real game for another half year).— Mike P
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- What would ever make you think they would retire the #20...This ownership is cold and heartless. It's strictly a business and if a great player comes in and wants to wear 20, they will let'em...— TheFirstStateVinman
- Lonewolf, Cuninngham? You are joking right. With his 1 playoff win(or was it zero playoff wins?) He had the best D in the league and could not get it done. With that logic you must really believe that Dons' number should already be retired and he should be headed to Canton. Think before you type. Cunningham was a great running QB but terrible when it mattered most. Totally inconsistent. You must be to young to have actually watched the Birds back then. Exciting? yes, Great, NO!— sfeagle
- If they retire #20, they won't do it when Dawkins arrives this season with the Broncos. The pictures to commemorate the event would all feature him wearing another uniform, an issue they would not want to perpetuate. For example, few people remember that Harold Carmichael retired after playing his final season for... the Dallas Cowboys.— bacbank
- #60, Concrete Charlie is racing in the 8th race at Los Alamitos tonight! C'mon Charlie!!!— DerbyBound
- lonewolf, i agree with you on most of your post and it is exceptional to honor my favorite eagle ever, #25. more than his td's, chanpionship ring and hof career, no one who ever played the game bounced up after a hit like mcdonald. the guy was the ultimate pro.— JACK V
- Retire, Tommy McDonald's number? Aren't you afraid of offending Lorenzo Booker?— Bob Ford
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- to the mike quick detractor. you never saw mike quick play, that's obivious.— JACK V
- easy answer bob ford. after dawkins retiries next year.— JACK V
- Numbers should be retired after a player retires! Hey Bob, why don't you come up with something new to write about? The team and the fans need to move on, stop writing the same old stuff.— fred13
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- Mike Quick is the most overrated player in Eagles history. I cant believe you would even bring him into the conversation. One great season does not = getting your number retired. Dawk was better than all the players you mentioned. They should retire his number... after he retires.— fiveforone
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- your a moron.— theanswer80
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About this blog
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
Reach Bob at bford@phillynews.com.
Bob Ford
Inquirer Sports Columnist
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