Eagletarian

Could Dawkins retire as an Eagle?

The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian

Could Dawkins retire as an Eagle?

POSTED: Thursday, February 2, 2012, 6:21 PM

Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist

INDIANAPOLIS - Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said Thursday that he hasn't yet made a decision on whether he wants to play a 14th NFL season.

The 38-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler, who has played the last three seasons in Denver after leaving the Eagles as a free agent in 2009, missed four of the Broncos' last five games, including both of their playoff games, with a neck injury. He will be a free agent in March.

``The season's not even over yet; The Super Bowl hasn't been played,'' said Dawkins. ``I'll give it some prayer and we'll take it from there.''

Dawkins was in town for the NFL Players Association's annual Super Bowl week news conference. Dawkins is a longtime member of the union's executive board.

Last summer, Dawkins agreed to restructure the contract he signed with the Broncos in '09. His 2011 salary was reduced from $6 million to $2 million.

If Dawkins decides to retire, which is a good bet at this point given his age and the neck injury, there's a good chance the future Hall of Famer would sign a one-day contract with the Eagles so that he could officially retire with the club that selected him in the second round of the 1996 draft.

``We'll see,'' he said. ``I don't even want to think too deeply about that right now. If it happens, just let it be a surprise to everybody and it'll be a surprise for myself and we'll go from there.''

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Comments (45)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:52 PM, 02/02/2012

Lurie would probably ask him for money to sign a one day contract!

— Geno D

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:03 PM, 02/02/2012

How about a one YEAR contract. If healthy he'd be better than the current safeties. I'd at least settle to see him on the coaching staff though.

— burholme

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:06 PM, 02/02/2012

Let him retire as a Eagle and then hire him the next day as the new Eagles safety coach, sorry Mike Zordich.

— big red

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:13 PM, 02/02/2012

He previously stated he's not leaving the Denver area to come back to Philadelphia for playing or coaching..doesnt want to move his family again.

— dae2217

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:47 PM, 02/02/2012

i read that, too, but whoever is in charge of his finances should get him to reconsider. he could still make a boatload of cash in endorsements and speaking engagements in the delaware valley. heck, he could probably run for public office and win in a landslide with his popularity.

— zwarte piet

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:44 PM, 02/02/2012

That may all be trued BUT-- Brian Dawkins and Schuylkill Valley Sports need each other. He'll be back. . at a store near you

— stikolaboloni

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:16 PM, 02/02/2012

Amen, big red.

— BigLadd

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:23 PM, 02/02/2012

Three years and I still miss the announcer bellowing his name as 65,000 strong screamed and cheered. Always introduced last as the team took the field, he lunged, and dove, and sometimes flipped through the air.
The thing about Dawk was that cheer was never forced. He had, through countless tremendous, intimidating, injury defying plays over 11 seasons earned the respect and adulation he received. When anyone asks me what defines a Philadelphia Eagle, I can forever point to Dawk and say this, this is what in means.

— MacMike