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Sunday, June 7, 2009
Dawkins notices Denver is different

Different town, similar event.

Different town, different people.

So it was that Brian Dawkins attended the "Fan Fair" that his new team, the Denver Broncos, puts on in the off-season. The Eagles Youth Partnership holds a fan-oriented event during training camp. This year, in a bit of a change of concept, the Eagles will hold something they're calling "Flight Night" at Lincoln Financial Field on August 2 at 7 pm. It is an evening that will include a full team practice, fireworks, interactive games, cheerleaders and the like.

Anyway, Dawkins went to Denver's event over the weekend. The Denver Post asked him to compare Philadelphia fans to Denver fans, based upon this experience.

Here is what he saw:

"The Philly fans are a lot more aggressive," Dawkins said. "They're a lot louder as far as giving their opinions. The Denver fans are a little laid-back and I understand that. It's a different place. This is a beautiful place with the mountains. Philly is hustle and bustle."

Dawkins added that he knows the Denver region is crazy for the Bronocs, that "they're ready for some football."

But it isn't going to be the same. You know he knows it, too.

Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 11:29 AM  Permalink | 52 comments
52
Comments   
Posted 11:25 AM, 06/07/2009
maximus
he took the money and ran. he could have been a nice part of this Eagles Superbowl winning team. I am sure Lurie will have something to give him when the Eagles win the superbowl, like a tshirt or a replica ring.
Posted 11:52 AM, 06/07/2009
illeagle7700
i kinda feel like that too.everybody acts like we kicked him out of town,fact is we offered him a fair contract and he coulda retired an eagle.but he CHOSE to go to denver i mean,hes what,36.what did he expect 5 years?but he deserves a ring WHEN we win.
Comment removed.
Posted 01:25 PM, 06/07/2009
Dean1
I wonder if the first two posters are Eagles' employees or part of the Lurie / Banner fan club. Plain and simple, management thought they could get Dawkins on the cheap, insulted him in his year-end meeting (and someone please tell me why Joe Banner is making football decisions)...so he told them to go stick it. I would have done the same thing - doesn't mean that he loves the fans any less. And, I guarantee that if the Eagles were within 25% of Denver's offer, Dawk would have stayed. In fact, the Eagles offered 50%+ less than Denver.
Posted 01:56 PM, 06/07/2009
citizenkane
The truth of the matter is that Brian Dawkins is guaranteed to be the highest paid safety in the NFL for 2009. In truth, he would probably not have been the best safety on the Eagles in 2009. Dawkins got way over his value as a current player. I congratulate him for obtaining that contract, hope he has a great season for Denver. Why does every comment about this situation have to have a scapegoat. This business involves gambles all the time, the Eagles have done quite well on most of them. Tell you one thing, if the Eagles followed the "advice" of most of the "fans", they would be a last place team....every year.
Posted 02:01 PM, 06/07/2009
phillyWASnice!
Dean-- I'll let you in on a little secret. The play vs Cards when Dawk "BOUNCED" off of Fitz and Fitz scored seeled his fate. Trust me on that one. The mind of the FO was made up then. That is a fact. Not knocking the guy, but face facts, he wasn't the same player. JJ did a great job "hiding" his aging game. It took half the season to figure out how to use him. Now, JJ is unfortunately out for some time. Are you as confident that McDermott could figure out where to put him this year, as teams made adjustments? Don't let WIP brainwash you, his time had passed. I loved him as much as the next guy, and wish things had been different. It sucks, but the game waits for for no man---regardless of your pedigree. This is NOT a rip On BDawk, he is a HOFer, however @ the end of the day this is a business------as Brian proved by leaving. I wish him well. He'll always be an Eagle!
Posted 02:05 PM, 06/07/2009
Barton
I see little discontent on Dawkins' part or the Eagles front office. Free agents at the ends of their careers usually get paid way more by a struggling than they are worth to their own 'good' teams. even on the downside of their careers they are probably better than the talent on the teams they are going to but not as good as the players on the team they left. Love Dawk, hate to see him go but I'm happy to got a big payday. We'll see him again when he comes back to retire. GO EAGLES!!!
Posted 02:06 PM, 06/07/2009
Onlineps2beast
who gives a good gadoodie how the denver fans compare, just dont go out like your a pro bowler after finishing a 3-13 season
Posted 02:22 PM, 06/07/2009
aiforeverxoxo
Dawk will be missed. it sucks that he went there when he had a better chance of winning a championship here. i mean cmon denver???they blew a 4 game division lead last year...
Posted 03:05 PM, 06/07/2009
Coniglio101
When he was with the Eagles, it was about football and winning. Now with the Broncos, it's about his financial future. Anyone here with young kids and minimal future income prospects would (and should) do the same. We lose a long-time team leader and town icon, but we improve at the free safety position. The emotional fog has dissipated; the reality of the situation is now crystal clear.
Posted 03:26 PM, 06/07/2009
soliteryman
How soon we forget.What will be missed most was dawkins fury
Comment removed.
Posted 03:49 PM, 06/07/2009
PhillyTrue
Dawkins will be missed, no doubt. How do you not miss a player like him? At the same time the team made him a very competitive contract offer. It's just that while badly needing some personality for a very poor defense, Denver offered more. In market terms, you could say they over-paid for Dawks' services. This was probably a unique situation and in most years Dawkins would still be an Eagle. What's done is done and now other players will need to step up. The saddest part for me is I always hoped #20 would get a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles.
Comment removed.
Posted 04:26 PM, 06/07/2009
TBear
I heartily agree that his spitit, his drive, his mentoring, and many other things will be missed by our Iggles. What WON'T be missed is his actual play. while he COULD have played for us this year, it would have been in a reduced, and more structured role.....which he would have chaffed at! I DO wish, however, that before any final decision was reached that both parties could have had a 10 minute closed room face to face meeting. That way there would be none of the vagaries thrown around by each side subsequent to the Denver signing. In fact, I mightily hope for that very scenario to be installed by the team in ALL negotiations with veterans at the end of their contracts. Maybe we wouldn't lose someone with something still to offer the team. Yeah, right....who am I kidding?
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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles.

You can now follow The Idle Rich on Twitter.
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