Eagles don't give out No. 20
The Eagles should have 85 players on the field Friday for the first day of minicamp. None will be wearing No. 20. When the Eagles were issuing uniform numbers for their newcomers, draft picks and undrafted free agents, No. 20 went unassigned.
Eagles don't give out No. 20
Daily News staff
The Eagles should have 85 players on the field Friday for the first day of minicamp. None will be wearing No. 20.
When the Eagles were issuing uniform numbers for their newcomers, draft picks and undrafted free agents, No. 20 went unassigned.
The number is synonymous with Brian Dawkins, and always will be in the minds and hearts of Eagles fans. Pity the poor young defensive back who would have been saddled with carrying on that tradition.
The Eagles often have not immediately given out the numbers vacated by popular players when they move on, but indications are that No. 20 has moved into the category of sacred numbers.
Dawkins' No. 20 likely can be viewed like Randall Cunningham's No. 12. The number is not retired, but it has not been worn since Jeffrey Lurie purchased the team.
Reggie White's No. 92 was worn for a day at the first minicamp after Lurie purchased the team, but Lurie put a stop to that and it was not worn again and then was retired after White's death.
The NFL discourages teams from retiring too many numbers simply because teams would eventually run out, especially during training camp and early in the preseason. The Eagles have seven retired jerseys.
The team has 85 players on the roster, with four numbers being worn by more than one player, because of the volume of linemen at this time of year.
In case you are wondering, the vacant numbers other than 12 and 20 are 1, 7, 8, 9, 38, 47, 48, 69, 72, 83, 85 and 94. Tra Thomas had worn 72 and Jon Runyan had 69.
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Ellis Hobbs has proved to be quite loquacious in his few days as a member of the Eagles and he already seems to be enjoying being with the Birds.
He told the Boston Globe that the trade was "like a breath of fresh air."
Now, I'm feeling like somebody wants me, somebody thinks I can do the job, somebody is embracing me with love and wants me here," said Hobbs. "They've already done that. Words only go so far, see. We'll see what's done from here."
Hobbs also talked about being reunited with former New England teammate Asante Samuel:
"There is a mutual respect," said Hobbs. "I'll go on the record and say there was no animosity. There was never a dispute. Or something like 'he's showing me up' or 'I'm showing him up' or anything like that, man. We enjoyed each other's company."
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To read our earlier posts, click here:
Scout's take on the Eagles draft
What We're Watching, Minicamp Edition
OMG, the first sign of a professionalism in the front office the whole offseason! Have they actually put their listening ears on????— Earl J
Yeah, because retooling the entire offense and the defensive secondary was such an amateur job. Send your Dawkins loveletters to the Broncos, people.— ahab- I'm surprised that 99 isn't one of those "sacred" numbers. If the Eagles hadn't tragically lost Jerome Brown the Buddy Ryan Era teams almost certainly would have won a Super Bowl or two.— vetlincbank
- 99 is one of the retired numbers.— JZan
- Whoops, I'm gonna go sit in the corner....— vetlincbank
HOW ABOUT WE GET RID OF 86..— teenwolf- even if it wasn't 'retired' - the kid that took #20 would realize after one day that he needs to change it... only one #20 --- ever!— AllDawk_AllTheTime
- Love it, #20 IS B Dawk! Anyone know who the 7 retired jerseys are? I can think of a few but got stuck. Kinda embarrasing— bear4995
- Hobbs wants a big payday. Will he be a distraction if he doesn't get it early in the season?— Phil E
Comment removed.- o...I thought this was because of the tragic passing of Andre Waters.— slovak34
- Lurie is not perfect but he is a great owner...we are very fortunate.— JBP
- Comment removed.
- Officially retired numbers: 15 - Steve Van Buren, 40 - Tom Brookshier, 44 - Pete Retzlaff, 60 - Chuck Bednarik, 70 - Al Wistert, 92 - Reggie White, 99 - Jerome Brown, It has to be a sign of respect that the Eagles didn't hand out the 20, 69, or 72. It didn't take long after Terrell Owens left the team that Jason Avant had the number 81.— knighn
- It was classy of the Eagles to retire #00 for Freddy Mitchell.— JZan
