Brian Dawkins, 1996-2009
An era ends with the departure of Brian Dawkins.
Brian Dawkins, 1996-2009
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
(UPDATED with this contract observation: Reports are that the Denver deal is for five years but, stripped away, it is two years and $9 million if the Broncos want it that way, or $4.5 million per year. By contrast, Dawkins' cap number last year with the Eagles was reportedly a little bit north of $3.3 million.)
I'm supposed to be on vacation and I will be on vacation, after this.
Brian Dawkins, 1996-2009.
I'm sitting here, thinking about Dawkins in a Denver Broncos uniform. I'm seeing a new coach and a new personnel group working to set a new tone, on the field and off, and understanding why they would be so attracted to Dawkins and his singular personality. I'm seeing Dawkins, prideful, so prideful, working himself into a state that it will be hard to fathom. He talked recently about how Donovan McNabb always played better with a chip on his shoulder and, well, it will be hard to imagine Dawkins' upcoming fury.
How the Eagles allowed this to happen is beyond me. Because, you know, I understand the football part of it completely but it does not trump the rest of it. I understand that they were finding ways to hide Dawkins at times last year, scheming around him. I get that, and get that it was only going to get harder. But Dawkins remained a tangible force around the line of scrimmage. Even if his selection to the Pro Bowl in 2008 smacked of a kind of lifetime-achievement award, even if he was heading toward part-time status within the next year or so, there had to be a way to get this done. They are so far under the NFL's salary cap, tens and tens and tens of millions to the good, that there had to be some way to make a deal.
It was the old Eagles coach from the '60s, Joe Kuharich, who famously said that if you start letting the fans make the decisions for you, soon you'll be sitting with them. It was true then and it is true now. You do not re-sign Dawkins just because he is beloved and because his departure would make people furious -- and it has and it will.
At the same time, there has to be a recognition of the fact that, while Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb are the faces of the franchise, Dawkins has been the heart. It has to be a tiebreaker, if nothing else. No one knows what the Eagles offered but you have to assume they did make an offer -- based upon Reid's stated optimism at re-signing Dawkins, if nothing else. And if they did make an offer, it means they did want him. The fact that Dawkins went to Denver means that the Eagles wanted him, but only on their terms. That just isn't good enough, not for a franchise with so much money it cannot possibly spend it.
Even if Dawkins' only function was to buy you a little more time and seasoning for Quintin Demps, it would have been worth the cash.
Right before the start of the playoffs in January, I wrote this about Eagles fans and their relationship with this special player:
"...When they look at Brian Dawkins, what they see is themselves.
"Thirteen years. It is a long time to be carrying a municipal legacy onto the field every week. It is forever, in many ways - and Dawkins will be a forever kind of player for this franchise, cherished, remembered, all of that, long after the No. 20 is put away.
"Part of it is because he has been so good, a seven-time Pro Bowler, the best safety in the history of the franchise. Part of it is because of how hard he hits people, how he just pulverizes them, even now. Long after the details are forgotten, the visceral remains. You wince when Dawkins really launches himself at somebody. That is what people will always remember - the wince, and then the wow.
"But it is more than that - and, no, not that ridiculous, indescribable routine he goes through when he emerges from the tunnel and goes onto the field. It is simpler than that. It is visible passion, visible to all.
"No Eagles fan can possibly doubt that Dawkins cares more than they do. That's it. That is the connection between a man and a city. That is the bond."
And while I understand that it's a business, a cold business, there always was the hope that it would be different with this team and this guy.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you that they are going to be a lot worse on the field without Brian Dawkins. But the Eagles are going to be lesser.
My heart is broken. I am happy for Dawk. Hoping he gets into the Hall as an Eagle.— emilia b- The day an all-time great Eagle officially leaves, the Eagles sign a buy who has never played tackle and is two and a half months removed from a torn ACL. This is the backwards logic that has been the blueprint for this regime. They are clueless. At least they will end up under the cap.— mikerainey82
- I hate to see Dawk leave but, 17 million. Take it a run Dawk. You can't mix business and pleasure. Dawk, defintely is a business man. Another, reason why I respect him. I will be there when the Eagles retire Dawk's number.— bjack85
- That's a LOT of money. But no doubt the Eagles could have had him for less. This feels like Reggie leaving all over again. And again Laurie, Banner and Reid DON'T GET IT. Just like Braman didn't get it. What Laurie, Banner and Reid have done by letting No. 20 go has done damage to their franchise they can't begin to estimate. Their expiration date has expired in Philly. Laurie's not about to sell the team in this economy and the Fat Man isn't going anywhere soon - but the sooner they're gone the better for this franchise. LAURIE, BANNER & REID you can win a bunch of super bowls but you will forever be despised in this town just like Braman.— burlington
- Once again the eagles have no clue. The lenght of any contract means nothing in the NFL. They are not gaurented They just let the heart & soul of there team, there biggest leader just walk away. They also gave away Lito to the Jets when they could have used him in a package on draft day to move up an address a need at TE & RB. All Laruie is worried about is how mush he can stick in his pocket by staying as far under the cap as possible, and as for Reid.. he is just thinking about his next cheese steak. signed a tired fan— tomoli
- Constance, stunning is your observation. Without the fire BDawk brought to this team, they will be ordinary. In this division ordinary means no playoffs. Dawk should never have had to make the decision, the Eagles should just have gotten it done.— Oldehawks
- I WANT TO SEE THEM TREAT MCNABB THE SO-CALLED LEADER THE SAME WAY - CAN'T BLAME DAWKINS IF HE GOT THAT TYPE OF MONEY— opfurlong
- While everyone was paying attention to the whining McNabb they let the heart and soul of the town's football team go elsewhere. McNabb has two years left on his contract yet the Eagles and the media let his soap opera take certain stage instead of signing one the greatest ever to put on an Eagles jersey. I want to puke.— rockinrob
Comment removed.- the only player who left town that hurt more was reggie. I couldnt understand then and really still dont know why braman let him walk, but i understand this. good-bye dawk, we loved you, you were great.— bigphillydad
- Comment removed.
- What happened to my comments about Lurie and Reid. I didn't curse? Lurie understands so little how a team works and what this franchise means to us fans. Reid's arrogance, ahem, let me clear my throat, is what is pushing this team in a downward spiral. I long for the day they are both gone.— Oldehawks
- JImG, It's really a 2-year contract......— Scholes
- As much as Dawk was the heart and soul of the defense, you could clearly see they used schemes last year to cover up his inability to cover wr. When teams see a weak link they go after it just like Trotter at the end of his career. I will miss Dawk and glad to see what he got from Denver but Eagles could not give him a five year deal unless they were drinking water from the Schuylkill.— Fms_Amos
- They did it again! First Reggie and now Dawk. Ive been a long time die hard and all my eagles gear will be put away in a box till they gewt their heads out of their butts. Dawk wasnt the problem. I hope they lose every game next year. I hope they trde their first 4 picks of the upcoming draft. I hope Kolb starts and is a bust. Lurie you are no longer hte gold standard of the league. The "gold" is fading from your organization. Good riddens!— mgondek652
