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With his 35th birthday two months away, and this being the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2006, Eagles safety Brian Dawkins hears the rumblings in the distance that, much like the bowl of ice cream in front of him that was melting yesterday, his body is wearing down.
He had just one interception and no sacks last season, in which he missed six games, five with a neck stinger. The six-time Pro Bowler has been bothered at training camp by a familiar nemesis: a hyperextended right knee.
On Saturday, when the hitting began, Dawkins was in the fray. Yesterday, he talked about his health and what lay ahead.
"It felt really good to get back out there with the guys and to test the waters out, so to speak," Dawkins said, adding that "everything is fine."
Dawkins would like to forget much of last season. He missed some minicamps and workouts because his wife gave birth to premature twins. His entire workout routine was altered last summer.
The question is: Will he resemble the player who, from 2004 to 2006, started 47 consecutive games and had 71/2 sacks, 11 interceptions and 375 tackles?
"I believe so," Dawkins said.
He said it was "funny" that "when you get an injury as a rookie, that's because of fatigue in the legs. You get that same, exact injury at 35, it's because you're old. It's the same injury I have known that I had six years ago - hyperextended the knee.
"But since I'm [nearly] 35 now, it's because I'm older. I'm going to go out and whatever I can give, I'm going to give. If I am not the same Brian Dawkins, then we'll talk about being that Brian Dawkins. If I'm not, I'm not. I anticipate being me.
"I only know one way to play - that is full speed. I have always done it that way."
This off-season's regimen was much harder and began much sooner.
"I put a whole lot of time in early, really early," he said. "When I train, I don't know what a 35-year-old person is supposed to be doing. All I know is I need to have my body right, and these are things I've done in the past to get my body right."
There are unknowns in the Eagles' secondary, given that Asante Samuel, their prized, $57.14 million free-agent acquisition at cornerback, has yet to suit up in pads because of a strained right hamstring. Fellow cornerback Lito Sheppard has a strained groin.
How is this group going to get in synch?
Sheppard, an Eagle since 2002, can miss the rest of camp without there being a major effect, Dawkins said.
"I don't want him to, but our chemistry is great," he said. "I've been here with him for quite some time. Asante is a little different."
It has been said that coordinator Jim Johnson's defense is complex. Dawkins said it didn't leave much "wiggle" room for interpretation, which is why Samuel has to get some reps.
Dawkins said Samuel was asking a lot of questions at film sessions, since he was not on the field.
Samuel had a workout off the field yesterday and told coach Andy Reid he wanted to play in the preseason opener Friday night in Pittsburgh. Of course, he has to get on the field first.
"Once he gets on the field, he'll know how we're going to try and play it, and he'll let me know how he wants to play it," Dawkins said. "When you're coming into a scheme, there are some things where there's not a lot of wiggle room.
"Those are the types of things Asante is trying to learn on the run a little bit. Where is the wiggle room for me to be able to do what I do best?"
Discussing quarterback Brett Favre's reinstatement in Green Bay, Dawkins said he believed Favre would recognize when his time had come.
"I would never, ever want to be a liability to my teammates," Dawkins said.
But would Dawkins stay retired if he ever announced it?
"I doubt very seriously that when that time comes, that I will come back, because I would have exhausted everything in this tank," Dawkins replied.
"The tread on the tires will be falling off," he added. "To come back with a spare tire on is not a good thing. I don't think I'll be coming back when that time comes, but it's not now."
at 215-854-2847 or tpanaccio@phillynews.com.
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