Dawk on Eagles
Brian Dawkins hasn't talked much about why negotiations with the Eagles didn't go well, but he seems to get more into that topic in an interview taped for Wednesday on ESPN 950-AM.
Dawk on Eagles
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Before we all let the Brian Dawkins trauma go for a while, I think we'd like to know why he ended up taking that trip to Denver last week where the Broncos blew him away with their offer, how things came to that state of affairs, after repeated assurances from Dawk (and from the Eagles) that they ought to be able to work something out.
Dawkins was unwilling to discuss his negotiations when he spoke with the Daily News on Sunday, but excerpts from an ESPN 950-AM radio interview scheduled to air this morning suggest he's thawing a little on that front. The answers show the process was pretty much what we all expected, I think.
A station producer sent me an e-mail with a link to some excerpts that I couldn't get to work, but later Tuesday evening, I got a partial transcript that goes as follows:
Did the Eagles let it be known they can go on without you?
“Yeah, in so many words. For that organization, this was a business deal and it was not business for me. People think I wanted to get to free agency. I did not want to get to free agency. I’ve never gone to free agency. I’ve had times in the past where I could have collected big bucks on the open market, but I did not want to get there. So why would I want to get there all of a sudden now on my last contract. No, I wanted to be an Eagle.”
On if talks with the Eagles got contentious:
“I wouldn’t say ugly, I would just say that they opened my eyes right away that this was a business deal that this wasn’t about me being here, who I am to the team to my teammates and what I’m continuing to do. It was about my age and a business decision and that really hurt.”
On how the Eagles made him feel:
“At the end of the day you’re a 36-year-old safety.”
On the contract that the Eagles offered him:
“What I was offered, that was it. I wouldn’t say take-it-or-leave-it offer. No one gave me any impression that there would be any flexibility in it.”
Was owner Jeffrey Lurie involved in the negotiations?
“I don’t know if he was involved in the negotiation, but I feel like if perhaps he was things would be different right now.”
*bobbyuk* First of all, Springs is 34, but more importantly, if Brian Dawkins' "slipped the last two years," may I infer you are including the month of December, '08 into that evaluation? If you are, you had better do your homework before you shoot of your mouth. And although it isn't directly to your point, these questions are certainly related to how they do business: How many Super Bowls have the Eagles won so far? And which team in the NFC East is the only team to yet win the Super Bowl?— djw
Comment removed.- I wonder if Ford and Domowitch ever read Les Bowen's stuff?— djw
- I think ahab's comments here are the most intelligent. The Eagles were not good last season. They made it into the playoffs on luck. Regardless of Brian Dawkin's past achievements, he is older now and will not be the impact player he used to be. During the games last season when he was injured, the Eagle's defense still played well. You people how criticize Lurie, Banner and Reid have short memories. Lurie is the best owner the Eagles have had in the last 40 years. Leonard Tose drank and gambled. Norman Braman really didn’t care about winning and was an absentee owner. The writer that thinks Lurie is liquidating assets in order to sell the Eagles is really off on a tangent. Lurie bought the team, moved here, built a stadium, and by all appearance gives the impression of being emotionally invested in the team. I don’t see any evidence that he’s going anywhere. Reid, for all of his stubbornness, has overseen the Eagles best run ever. The Eagles are going to get new players, and some of them will turn out to be good. It does appear that the Eagles could do better in talent evaluation, so if they made any change on the management side, I’d like to see it in that area. I’d also be more concerned about the position of defensive coordinator since Jim Johnson is ill.— Bobby257
- Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl with this excellent cap management system at all. I think I'm gonna start rooting for the Steelers.— CallerNo9
- I have always stuck with the Eagles' through good and bad, thick and thin. From Mike Broyla to Jaws to McNabb, Bergey to Joyner to the Ax Man, I have been there, just like many of you reading these posts. From the losing seasons to getting to the Super Bowl. From when there was loyalty between the players' and management to the way it is now. But I cannot with any conscience stay this course after the front office let the heart andt soul of this team walk. I don't think we will ever see an NFL world championship in this city just because of the vileness of the ownership and front office.— lalaw9833
- do you want to hear a bunch of BS today? listen to Banner on Eskin's show today. after the interview, I'm sure Banner will hand Eskin his monthly check from the Eagles.
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lalaw, your comments are right on. On Bob Ford, he was always boring, so what read, now he is also out of touch with the real world. My the Inky sports section has fallen. At least the DN still has some chops left from a wonderful legacy.— Earl J
You can bet your bippy that Springs will not get a five year deal. Therein lies the difference.— RAS- It is an absolute disgrace what this organization has done to Dawkins, someone who gave them everything he had every Sunday for 13 seasons. To allow him to leave on those terms is sickening, he should have retired and Eagle. Banner/Lurie/Reid are heartless individuals and they don't deserve a championship, not that they even care about having one. I agree with DooDooFresh. I will never give another dime to that organization. Good luck Dawk, you deserve respect! I can't wait to buy my orange #20 jersey— BDawkRules
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- First of all calabrese - what is the point of having a contending team ever year that never wins. That doesn't make any sense. You get enjoyment out of having your heart crushed every single season?? Who cares how good they are if they can't win. He had a pro bowl season and his playing days are over? He is the reason we got to the NFC championship game. The man still wants to play so let him play. He knows best when it's time to retire. It should have been his call when he wants to leave the Eagles. For him to feel like "A 36-year old safety" is a disgrace and an embarassment of this organization. They will NEVER replace Dawkins, ever!— BDawkRules
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