I think the Eagles would admit that they misjudged the popularity of Brian Dawkins here in Philadelphia, as well as his ability to still play football. The absence of Dawkins on the Birds’ roster hurt the Birds for the last few years because they haven’t been able to find a star level safety, since he left.
The Birds made amends on Saturday with their Brian Dawkins retirement news conference. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was there to announce that Dawkins #20 jersey will retired on September 30 before a game between the Eagles and the defending champion New York Giants. Head coach Andy Reid was there and he started the push to put Dawkins into the NFL Hall of Fame.
The Birds had a group of season-ticket holders there to witness the event and get the chance to meet Dawkins. Dawkins made it a point to speak to the passionate Eagles fans who loved him so much.
“I wore my emotions on my sleeve”, Dawkins said while fighting back the tears. “You can tell in the video that that’s who I was. It wasn’t an act . . . I’m a passionate cat about the thing that I did for a living for that long . . . [fans] knew that everything I said was coming from my heart.”
Former Eagles like Donovan McNabb, Correll Buckhalter, Jeremiah Trotter, Tra Thomas, Ike Reese, Darwin Walker, Mike Mamula and current Eagles coaches Duce Staley and Mike Caldwell, who all played with Dawkins were there as well.
Dawkins signed a one-day contract with the Birds before retiring. He spoke about leaving the game on his own terms.
“As I walked down the aisle, you didn’t see me limping and you didn’t see my shoulders sag to one side or the other. My body is healthy and I feel great”, Dawkins said during his remarks.
Dawkins’ #20 will join the ranks of Eagles uniform numbers which have been retired.
The Philadelphia Eagles have been in existence a long-time and a lot of people have worn that number”, Dawkins said. “To know that now, because the Lord blessed me to play this game, nobody will ever wear it again…. what an honor, what about honor.”
Number 20 will be the eighth retired jersey in franchise history. Here’s the rest of the list:
15 – Steve Van Buren, 40 – Tom Brookshier, 44 – Pete Retzlaff, 60 – Chuck Bednarik, 70 – Al Wistert, 92 – Reggie White, 99 – Jerome Brown
Here are the 17 players who wore #20 in an Eagles uniform prior to Dawkins:
1. Alex Marcus, 2. John Lipski, 3. Clyde Williams, 4. Howard Bailey, 5. Pete Stevens, 6. Jim MacMurdo, 7. Henry Reese, 8. Elmer Hackney, 9. Don Stevens, 10. Bibbles Bawel, 11. Jim Harris, 12. Frank Budd, 13. Leroy Keyes, 14. John Outlaw, 15. Leroy Harris, 16. Andre Waters, 17. Vaughn Hebron
not a fan of Brian Dawkins words or thoughts —Brian Mitchell, Ike Reese, Hugh Douglas, G Cobb are entertaining post field in football I don’t think McNabb and Dawkins are good at talking football —– Brian Westbrook is OK
I have been inpressed with Westbrook who was doign a daily evenning show leading up to the Draft where he and other foremer players who would quest the future Draft picks and as well as answer questions from the respecitve Rookies.. It was interesting and Westbrook handled himself very well around the Set..
@E0SB…I would tend to agree that Dawk is probably not the most entertaining talk host, but I do appreciate much of what he has said in thye past regarding football and life…the guy gets “IT”, if you know what I mean.
I am a huge BDawk fan and hope to see him coaching the DB’s for the Birds when he has had some time to relax from his playing career and spend some quality time with his family.
No chance in Dawk ever coaching. He said it the other day on the fan. He wants to spend time with his family and enjoy life.I dont think being a db coach would be something he’s cut out for and he sounded pretty passionate about not being interested into devoting his life to that.
Dawk is Dawk….he tells it like it is and you can just tell from his tone that he feels blessed as ever to be granted this kinda life.
Not a fan of Dawks words or thoughts?huh!?
I would take Dawk right now crawlng out of the fog with a neck brace, before the bum ass Safeties on this team.
I also believe Burfict with Cincy will be a better linebacker than every backer on our squad Ryan notwithstanding.
Erock – I think Brian Dawkins is boring when he talks, he is passionate about football but his long drawn out winded answers to questions is yawn, ZZZZzzzzz — His family loves living in Denver and they are happy he left Philly for the quality of their home life now.
Songs, you just can’t let the Burfict thing go, can you? LMFBO!!! I hear ya with Dawk. They still haven’t replaced him, & Rosebuds said today, What you see is what you get with the safeties. He ain’t signing a veteran. So unless we get 60+ sacks this year, & Aso & DRC shut down all of the WR’s, look forward to the center of the secondary to be a cavern again this year.
Dcar, you don’t think improved lb play and Ryans’ leadership can’t help the safties a bit? boykin doing well in the slot has no potential effect? What about Bowles, no help there? The absence of Asantes ego stinking up the room can’t help? Potentially a healthier season for Allen, development from Jarrett, more experience for all?
I think each one of those factors, plus the two you mentioned can combine to help the Safties a lot. You listed two, I listed 8. What if 5 of the 10 come through? That would be a big difference potentially…
Damn, Schill, you are making good points today. I don’t like agreeing with you. LOL! Lets hope for those things to come to fruition. I’m sick of not winning every damn year. I’ve been over with Reid for 3 years now. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
Oh its definitely a weird feeling to agree ha. Glad you’re able to taste some optimism. does a fan good
Smoke and mirrors….
Remember before the draft there was smoke that the Eagles were not going to draft a safety but address it after the draft with signing Bell?
That’s the old bait and switch the Eagles have become so good at.
Everyone on the site here was saying the Safety position will not be addressed until after the draft.
Should I paste the quotes?
Now, the Safeties are fine?
You guys fall for the banana in the tail pipe, every time.
These bum ass safeties are going to cost us game and you guys better look back at that New England game.
Those safeties were toyed with the whole game guys…Look how confused Brady looked against the Giants and how Welker was getting done in by the Giants Safeties…and then compare that to when the same Patriots team played us earlier in the year.
I’m not buying it.
We need safeties who can hold their own, not liabilities covered with other positions.
The key word here is “SAFETY”
They are supposed to help the corners and linebackers and keep the void in the middle covered.
You can’t think Corners and Linebackers handling their responsibilities will help the Safeties.
The Safeties have to be qualified to handle there responsibilities.
Nate Allen gets turned around and ran over regularly….Jaquan Jarrett is not an NFL starting Strong Safety..plus he lacks NFL speed.
Coleman was the best of the group and i believe he’s still the best of the 3 but lack the speed and height needed to really make the difference there.
Come on man…let’s get real here.
Teams are not going to hold the ball against our defense.
screens, draws, slant and go up the middle..will kill these safeties once again.
watch.
You’re exactly correct Songs I agree.
Songs slant and go up the middle? funny, that’s impossible. And height on a safety? Dawkins isn’t tall. The rest of the d doesn’t effect the safeties? Is this opposite day? Or are just feeling particularly stupid right now? Draw plays are the lbs responsibilities. Boy you sir don’t understand football.
And what smoke before the draft, other than janoris jenkins are you referring to? The eagles team said nothing of their plans before the draft for any specific position. Your ass must be gigantic because you keep reaching farther and farther into that treasure trove of bullshit you pull out
Wow – really – thanks songs – and here I thought the issue was the Giants D Line pressuring Brady all day and the fact that his primary target Gronk had a bum ankle……
and really – talk about your ass hanging out and football pedigree –
Never, ever, ever, ever in the history of football has a screen and draw play or a slant been the safeties responsibility……
primary responsiblity for a screen or a draw falls on the LBs – as typically a slant is a three step drop and release.. the only way the safety is involved is if the CB misses the play
dude – you are pathetic –
Wait… I like these statements the best…LMAO
Dude said
“They are supposed to help the corners and linebackers and keep the void in the middle covered.
You can’t think Corners and Linebackers handling their responsibilities will help the Safeties.
yep to navy and gotta luv it.
Again, I would pay a lot of money to arrange an educational session between Brian Dawkins and Songs. I would specifically request that Songs explain to Dawkins, his philosphy of what the safeties are supossed to do, how the LBs DL and CBs don’t effect the position at all, and MOST OF ALL, I’d LOVE to hear Songs say to Dawk’s face that not only is replacing Dawkins supposed to be possible, it’s supposed to be easy, and the Eagles (and now Broncos) should be held accountable for doing so immediately.
One more request, I’d like to have ear plugs for that particular moment. I’m not sure I could handle the decible level of that hit without them.
Just to be clear……
I am not relating Draws and screens to weak Safeties but was pointing out the ways offenses attack our defense.
If QB’s are getting the balls out quick along with stifling our pass rush with delay draws and screens…….All the defensive talent on the line can do little if all 4 linemen are shooting in the backfield every play.
If our Safeties play like they’ve played the last few years it will not make a difference.
We had good linemen and corners last year…..Teams attacked our linebackers and Safeties.
Now, that we’ve addressed 2 linebacker positions ..they’ll now exploit the weaknesses at Safety.
The Eagles can not expect better play from the Safeties…they must get Safeties who are better players.
songs – just to be clear – you are an idiot that every time you post, you just confirm it even more – why did the team get rid of Samuel – to get a CB that will NOT let the QB get it out early, to force him to hold it to let the DL shoot the gaps – the screens and draws will STILL be the LBs to handle..
your not bright so let me school you again – the offense has 5 guys that can go out on pass plays (hint, they do not have jersey number betwee 50 and 79)
that leaves the QB and 5 others…. you still with me…
the eagles will rush 4 people – leaving 3 LBs, 2CB, and 2 S (depending on nickel or dime of course)
so our 4 guys (lets go with Babin, Jenkins, Cox and Cole) will try to rush 5 – meaning they can only double team one person –
we will have our 2 pro bowl CBs jam up the WRs – and our LBs focus on the TE and RBs – – so how are you going to ‘target’ the safeties
to ‘target’ the safeties you need time to throw, and the chance to do double moves and pump fake to draw them out of postion – as the CBs will be playing press man – most of the needed assistance will be deep which is something Allen is actaully good at!
So please songs – other then act like the whiney btich you are – educate the lessers of us from your infinite football pedigreee –
how would you ‘target’ the safeties – as we have already blown your draw, screen and slant up????
Navy…2 pro bowl corners?
Ae you talking about the corner that was traded from the Cardinals who was torched 68% of the time by QB’s in a weak division?
a corner so pathetic the Cardinals went into the draft to pick a replacement because he wasn’t good enough?
so, how does this plan you’re talking work out if DRC is the same player the Cardinals got the hell outta Arizona as soon as they could?
tap dance, shuffle step, tap dance, little bitch dances, tap dance, play the music so dumb shit can tap dance, tap away, tap dance, shuffle step tap dance, little soft shoe…
you little bitch – yet again you try and tap dance away from your stupid ignorant posts – you answer my question dumb ass –
how would you taregt the safeties – hummmmmm – I love how you went from saying the safeties were going to be targeted and when shown how fucked up you are you switched it to the CB – …. so are you admitting you have no clue and now they are going to target the CB – which I believe we drafted one this year and one last year…… so come one songs – what are you going to dance on to next..
wrong songs- nice spin tho- DRC was not rushed out the door. They liked him….. problem was, they wanted baby arm more. Im not saying DRC is great… but i will say that he is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than Asam at jamming a reciver and THATS they kind of D we will be running around here.
Loook man- i want all pros at every spot too but thats not a possabilty in todays NFL. Look at the Pats this past year…
-they got to the SB with a great QB and very very good TE’s.
– How were their WR’s? meh
-How was their D? meh
Even the well rounded 49ers did not have clutch players at every spot- how was their Kicker at the end of the year?
Im not saying they dont need a SS to help out… i think they do….. but im liking what they have done this offseason and I think they lock up Shady before the season starts.
At the end pof the day Songs i dont get it….. you and I have been screaming for a more physical D for YEARS… and Now…. i think we may actually get it. This could very well be the closest thing we have seen since the good old days.
Songs I’m with you, the safeties are below average—there isn’t a magic off season summer program that is going to prevent Nate Allen from getting run over again ( he just has no pop in his pads )
— no one is throwing at Asomugha with DRC on the field — everyone in the league knows the week one game plan is Brandon Weeden slants and screen passes to Josh Cribbs on DRC
Navy and Schiller — you 2 are wrong — DRC is the QB target for every game plan
and until the safeties lay out the DRC slant then it will be run over and over again
eagles0 – we’ll see. You really think a rookie will shine against our DL in his first game? Alrighty dude. Get your head checked.
DRC is a different player in press coverage with a good DL. That’s what we’ll get. You’re not seeing the DRC of last year – different situation entirely. And you’re not seeing the DRC from Zona – 10 different players on the team with him.
Schiller I expect the eagles to win against Cleveland but I know no one is throwing at Asomugha —– Flacco, Roethlisberger, Manning, Romo are all throwing at DRC
yeah E0S – if there was just an ounce of imperical evidence to support what you are pullingout of your ass – Samuel was the most targetted last year and DRC and Asmo were equally targetted last year – but I digress to last year
DRC can be more of a target – then you provide DRC the safety help over the top… you need any other help understanding how to deisgn a D or are you good –
I have a great idea E0S – why don;t we actually wait until the season before we start complaining which players will screw up when? So even if the safeties are ‘below average’ right now – does this mean they will forever be ‘below average’ as for ‘pop in the pads’ as ref s are now taking a very unkindly view to DBs lighting up rcvrs, ane I think we are all hoping that the improvement of the front 7 will preclude our FS having to demonstrate their tackling prowess – I am more concerned with his coverage capabilities, as I see his role (and I could be wrong) as being the deep cover guy as the CBs run with the WRs and our LBs run with the TE…
but again – the topic was how the safeties will be ‘targetted’ I want to know how Sings would ‘target’ the safeties
Songs let me answer Navy’s question for you === you attack Nate Allen by running right at him and when he sticks his arm out you put a quarter in his ear hole and bust through the turnstile
Schiller and Navy – y do you waste ur time arguing with these idiots?
Yeah – E0S – that’s all macho and hard ass and all that shit – but um –
let me just cut and paste what I already wrote condenring that issue:
I think we are all hoping that the improvement of the front 7 will preclude our FS having to demonstrate their tackling prowess – I am more concerned with his coverage capabilities, as I see his role (and I could be wrong) as being the deep cover guy
so to get this straight – and your answer is about on par with Songs talking about running draws and screens to get the safeties – is you are going to design a running game to attack the FS –
um – isn’t everyplay designed to make the other teams FS have to make the tackle – – now – next year, if we are complaing about Nate Allen’s tackling, we have a serious issue with our 2 new LBs and out DL…….
BirdO – becuase every once in a while you have to go to the lower parts of the gene pool to see where their version of logic and reality comes from..
I mean – the other teams are going to attack Nate Allen by designing runs to go right at him – – – – as if the fact Nate Allen is probably 12-15 yards off the LOS – we got a bigger problem then that –
BirdoBeaman — from the starting point of you calling people idiots today to the 1st game of the season — let see how many national and local publications say and print
DRC and the Eagles safeties is still weakness
vs.
DRC will improve because he is with 10 new players and the new Eagle front 7 will make the eagles safeties better
Navy there is no reason to design something exotic to target a weakness — nothing special is needing — you run the normal play and when a Bad player meets a Good player bad things will happen to the Eagles safeties —-
Navy…yuor’re not getting it..
If teams throw passes over the front 7 (Which usually happens) in the direction of Nate (toast) Allen, and he is taking getting burned..at least we expect him to make the tackle. GOT IT?
He’s been inconsistent and suspect at best and that was a few games before his injury.
Now if we’re hoping the front 7 negates him having to do anything than why not have any joe there?
We at least need him to play up to where the Eagles expected when he was draftred…..To still be hoping at this point is too much of a risk when there’s players in the open market could do better like Bell.
Nate Allen is still on nthis team because of his draft grade…and nothing more.
They benched their best Safety (Coleman) last season for error but refused to do that to Nate (toast) Allen when it was clear he was getting his ass handed to him.
No more double standards……get a guy in and if Allen shows his (toast) ways…bench him and play his replacement….THIS YEAR!!!!!
Not, after we’ve wasted another season….then we’ll look to replace him next year while creating a new blind spot for next season.
It’s called “Insurance”…..no more hoping
songs , when u say toast i still think of Izel Jenkins !
nev……I was the first to coin the phrase “Baby Arm” for bum ass Kolb when Andy and the crew and his sympathizers here, said he was going to be better than McNabb and run a true west coast offense.
It turned out I was correct and the haters never acknowledge the foresight.
And then last year during the preseason I told every the middle linebacker along with Juan “Can’t See Yo” at defensive coordinator will cost us an opportunity to compete for the playoffs.
They placed “Thor on Crack” in the middle…and look…
Now, it’s the second coming of the word “TOAST”.
Izell Jenkins held the “TOAST” crown but I’m here to say ..
Nate Allen will run away with that title this coming season and make us forget all about Mr Jenkins.
paste it!
No songs – I don’t get it becuase you are doing what you ALWAYS do which is throw up a bunch of shit (they are going to ‘target’) him – they are going to run him over…. etc etc. etc and then you completely change the topic –
you still haven’t answered how you will ‘Target’ a safety – and despite the dumb comment from E0S, and still DRC – who was never part of the safety comments keeps getting dragged into it..
and E0S – you just agreed with me in my argument with Songs – teams are going to run ‘normal’ plays…. which again – would mean the play has already picked up 10 yards if Allen is making the tackle….
Songs – how will you get a rcvr isolated 1 on 1 with the FS.. that only happens when songs – when – when is the FS isolated 1 on 1….
I love this – you guys keep stepping all over each other and songs can’t keep from stepping all over himself – keep dancing – keep talking shit…
no songs – you don;t get it – Allen is just fine as a cover FS – much better then any Joe, he had one bad game against Hicks and was hurt and was playing much better by the end of last year – both of you guys are talking shit becuase he doesn;t tackle like Brian Dawkins – …. well no shit – out of the 120 safeties in the NFL – how many tackle like B Dawkins hm… everyone is one record as saying they want a vet FA (Y Bell) for competition, if it happens, it happens, quit being such a whiney puss..
so E0S – thanks again for agreeing with me!
I didn’t know you could “target” safeties. I’ve heard of teams targeting Corners and not being worried about a Safety, but I’ve never heard of teams directly targeting a Safety.
Is that even possible?
Navy…take notes. OK?
QB’s would look Nate Toast Allen out of a play and get him turned around regularly….in multiple receiver sets the Safety lines up with a receiver…..(You do know that don’t you?)
The other issue here is not comparing Allen to Dawk..there was Safeties better than Allen like Earl Thomas when we traded up to get bum ass McDougal Jr. Graham.
We don’t need a safety that tackles like Dawk….We need a damn Safety that can tackle and not get trucked over on a consistent basis.
birdo turn on the Eagles vs. the cowboys defense videos from the last five years and watch how Coach Reid “targets the safeties” & manipulates their lack of speed === watch Denver’s last play against the Steelers in OT when Tebow targets the weakness in the Steelers2nd string safety
Birdo turn on Washington vs. Eagles monday night and watch how Coach Reid instructs Mike Vick to target Laron Landrys lack of speed on a play action role out to the left for a TD
navy will finally get it when Jeff Lurie tells him too — he was torn in January when Jeff Lurie criticized Coach Reid he didn’t know what to think – that is when he goes into his wait and see mode — Juan’s coming back
Juan is great
according to Navy
Eagles0, moron, you can’t target safeties. You can “not respect” them, but you can’t “target” them.
Have any of you ever played football in your pathetic lives?
Birdo that is as ridiculous as saying you can’t give the ball to the running back but you can hand the ball to the running back —- there are Offensive coordinators that get paid a lot of money trying to get man to man coverage trying to shift a Brian Westbrook out into the flat on a safety but in your mind that is not targeting a safety but exploiting a weakness ——– it is not macaroni, it is pasta — it is not a donation but charity
eagles0 – “you target Nate Allen by running right at him”. Oh good point. That’s full proof because Safeties play closer to the line of scrimmage than Trent Cole, Fletcher Cox, Mike Patterson, Derick Landri, Antonio Dixon, Demeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Rolle, Chaney…. Great point.
birdo – I guess navy and myself enjoy a challenge…. or we’re gluttons for pain, who knows…
truth is, I think you CAN target the Safeties – but it’s NOT what they did in that Tennessee game – they were targeting Hobbs – who was playing some of the worst CB EVER – and Allen did a poor job – as a ROOKIE – having to clean up shitty vet play at CB. I think you can target a safety if you have the right weapons and the other team has bad CBs.
Eagles0 – yeah, the Eagles put Desean on routes over the middle knowing that Dallas shitty CBs – really when was the last time Dallas had any talent at CB – prime time? – that those shitty cbs can’t cover Desean. The ONLY way you can really try to target a safety is when you have particularly good WRs or Tight Ends, and the other team has bad CBs and LBs.
But seriously for anyone to be bitching about the Eagles safties this year already, at THIS POINT, with so many changes and potential upgrades on the defense, it is truly talking about an unknown as if it’s a known. You are UNDENIABLY speaking unintelligently by speaking assuredly about a future unknown.
“Cognitive distortions, thought errors, or as I
often tell the kids I work with “sometimes when our feelings are too high our
thinking goes a little wonky and we say things to ourselves in our head or out
loud that might not be true”. But whichever way you say it, it’s the same
thing: Everything we think is an automatic thought because our minds seek to
narrate what is going on around us. Problems arise when these thoughts manifest as
cognitive distortions. Although based on deeply ingrained core beliefs they are
still our mind playing tricks on us that can distort our perspective and
objectivity.
The Fortune Telling Error is when we anticipate that things will turn out badly and
feel convinced that our prediction is an already-established fact. When we assume that we know what
will happen in the future, based upon little or no evidence, we’re fortune
telling. Sometimes we even try to predict an outcome when there’s evidence to
the contrary. Fortune Telling can take many forms,
sometimes it starts with a “What if” – these
types of thoughts relate to feelings of somehow not being able to cope or
manage in the future.
So what do you do when you notice
yourself, a family member or your child fortune telling? First off we have to recognize it (the irrational reaction
and the stressful situation that led to it) and then we want to replace it (with a fair and realistic
and rational thought). A global replacement thought might be: “I don’t know what the future will bring but
I am managing right now.” Anchors us in the present, and reminds us of the
truth.”
schiller – Nate Allen is below average across the board on the field — he is weak ( and to make sure birdo understands that covers all areas of the English language related to lack of strength) — he is timid, he is not very good in coverage and all Kings men couldn’t put him back together again when he falls off the wall ——– so no matter who plays in front of him is not going to change his Non NFL caliber ability — not yesterday, not today and not next year
schiller – go talk to Keith Olbermann or Dennis Miller
schiller — you sucked me into reading that comment twice and the only thing it says is what you always say, “I’m right your wrong wait and see “
eagles0 – do you truly believe NFL players can’t improve? If you do, well okay, I’m dealing with an utter moron so I’d get that.
I agree he’s been less than average for the most part so far – HE ALSO HAD A MAJOR INJURY AND IS STILL VERY VERY YOUNG.
But seriously – you picked two odd guys to pair there – what were you going for with Olberman and Miller? One’s a raging liberal, the other a raging conservative…?
Really not sure your point there at all.
Dude, whatever, keep telling yourself you know things about the future. Enjoy your insanity.
How did Babin look early in his career? Like he’d be a league leader in sacks after age 30? Was Dawk no better in 2004 than his rookie year? Man, how the NFL players would laugh at your arrogant cluelessness….