It has to be a sad sad day for Eagles fans across the country when the man known as B-Dawk will no longer wearing the green. He'll no longer be leading the cheer to the Eagles fight song getting the crazies in the "700 level" of the Linc to their intimidating best. Understand the Philadelphia Eagles lost more than a player when Brian Dawkins decided to leave the only place he's ever played for a 5 year 17Mil deal. At age 35, it really comes down to the first two years would he would be scheduled to make 9 million. 7.5 Million is guaranteed. Not bad for a 35 years old Safety who just early last season had reportedly lost a step to hear some tell it.
Not sure if we can all put this one on Eagles management, who have a rep to short change their veteran players and some how manage to always get their young players to sign contracts that are less than their market value. This is clearly a player at the twlight of his career doing the smart think, looking over at his family and taking the guranteed 7 million. But for the Eagles fans the bottom line will be: that management is in great cap shape and somehow let the most beloved Eagles player possibly ever leave over money that you weren't willing to pay. Apologies to McNabb, Westbrook, Reid or Jim Johnson this is the leader of the players on this football team. In the trenches of the rugged NFC East battles, B-Dawk is the Maximus Decimus Meridus, the player that the other players responded to, respected and didn't want to let down more so than the coaches. He made the coaches job's easier because when you're playing on the same field with Dawkins there was no time to b.s. or be thinking about the club later on, he demanded your best.
A force fumble machine, Dawkins is even a better person than player. And it is the intangibles that make him hard to measure in terms of dollars and the exact reason why the Broncos paid what was necessary to sign him.
As I look at the Eagle depth chart I'm not sure how the Philly D will compensate on the field but Eagles definitely were a better team two days ago. As usual the biggest losers are the fans who proudly doned #20 jersey more than any other Eagle jersey. On local sportstalk radio, even the biggest organization-does-know-wrong Eagle fan is upset today.
As for Eagles management who once called the team the "Gold Standard" of the league. Which is more a nod toward their successful fiscual management which is in the same mold of the New England Patriots. But what Eagles management fail to realize is that the Pats can say they are the "Gold Standard" without being laughed at. They not only magnificently manage their cap but they are also known to manificently manage their timeouts and 2 minutes drills, particularly in situations that lead to or win Super Bowls. Now there's no way to tell if Dawkins would be the difference in whether they won, lost or made it to Super Bowl this upcoming season. What we do know is that he has been the leader of a defense that has really carried this team for some time now and is one of the few athletes that truly cares just as much as the die hard fan.
The cold reality for the fans is that sports is a business first, and as long as a teams season tickets waiting list is as long as the Eagles, they'll never have a real say no matter how much hate mail the P.R. Department receives.
Breaking news...Weapon X has landed in Denver
A homer at it's finest.
He go hard but you know the Eagles wasn't gonna pay too much at his age
He was on the downside he will be a bust in Denver
Interesting that Denver would pick him up, but it shouldnt have been a suprise seeing as how they picked up John Lynch years ago. I wont say he will be a but because he deserves more faith than that. But his influence and presence will be greatly needed in Denver.
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