Well it has happened before so take a deep breath and get over it. Like that relationship you had that knew eventually was coming to an end but didn’t want it to, Brian Dawkins has went the way of Steve Carlton, Charles Barkley, Reggie White, Randall Cunningham, Eric Lindros and Allen Iverson. Dawkins signed a five year deal with the Denver Broncos last week.
There’s a lot of sentiment in Philadelphia about the Eagles “shouldn’t have let him get away”. Well it’s not like the Eagles didn’t extend him a contract offer. Brian Dawkins could have accepted the Eagles offer (whatever it was). Instead he chose to go for more money and more years.
Can’t blame Dawkins for taking the payday but you also can’t blame the Eagles for not doling out booku bucks either. The simple truth is the Eagles did not remain competitive over the last decade by handing out huge contracts to aging veterans like Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. They did it by locking up young talent long term (usually for a discount).
Yes everyone would much rather have Dawkins retiring with the Eagles, but life goes on. Brian Dawkins was not the Brian Dawkins of 2002 in the beginning of the 2008 season. When he got beat badly a couple of times by Terrell Owens in the Eagles first Eagles vs Cowboys meeting, Philadelphia was calling for Dawkins removal from the starting lineup or at least bracing for his departure this offseason. So don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t cry now about it but in October you were ready to throw him out like yesterdays newspaper.
Yes Dawkins played inspired at the end of the season. I think that has more to do with Jim Johnson finding innovative ways to use him without depending on him heavily in coverage, mostly blitzing.
So get over it. Dawkins chose to leave the Eagles and the Eagles didn’t break the bank to keep him here. There’s fault on both sides but don’t think the Eagles wouldn’t have had him on the team had he signed the contract.