Yesterday the Philadelphia Eagles lost their heart and soul in Brian Dawkins. Dawkins was more than a player – he was a coach on the field. I remember in a game last year when former Eagles’ rookie Matt McCoy made a boneheaded penalty, it was Dawkins that dressed him down on the sidelines. I think Dawkins would make a great head coach one day. That’s how much I thought of him.
As much as loved Dawkins as a player, I’m not going to blame the Eagles for allowing him to walk away. He got more money than he’s worth at 36. I didn’t want him to leave, but it wasn’t stay at all costs. I now hope that the Eagles will spend the money on a stud safety 10 years younger. I hate to say it, but the Eagles are running a football team, not the hall of fame. The worse thing you can do as a team is to allow nostalgia to blind you to reality. It happened to the Philadelphia Phillies after 1993 when they decided to spend a lot of money on a bunch of past their prime players. It ruined their team for years after that.
When the season starts in September, all that we’ll care about is whether it will end with the Eagles hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. You think I’m wrong? How many people mentioned Aaron Rowand’s name after the Phils won the series? Not many. Winning cures all. But for those games in October, we’re going to miss B-Dawk.
And we’re going to miss him now. Wish you well B-Dawk.
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