During the Eagles’ 2nd game this past season, the defense gave up over 30 points to the Cowboys. We couldn’t stop two things, Marion Barber in the 4th quarter and Jason Witten on every other play. I thought that game singled the end of Brian Dawkins. He attempted to cover Witten on the majority of those play and on the majority of those plays, he was beaten by an embarrassing margin. He just couldn’t cover anybody anymore. He’s too slow I thought. A thought that was punctuated by Dawkins giving up an easy touchdown to TO on a goal line slant. When TO saw Dawkins covering him, he was waving his arms and setting off flairs at Romo because he knew it was an easy score. The entire week after the game I repeatedly said he was done, old, washed up. A once great player that didn’t have enough in him when it matter.
Then he helped destroy the eventual SuperBowl champions the following week. This time the punctuation of his dominance came during a play when he went Flying Squirrel over an offensive lineman to strip the ball out of Rothlesburger’s hands. Dawkins worth at this stage of his career was in his ability to motivate those around him with just a touch of dominant play making ability left.
He ran up and down the field each and every game giving players on both sides of the ball encouragement. He wasn’t just a motivated player on the field; he embodied the pain and desire of an entire fan base. In a time when athletes care more about the money and the business of their profession (I don’t blame them), it was nice and encouraging to see a fan’s passion on the field. That passion may be in every player (stoically) and it may or may not be a difference maker in a game (although I find it hard to believe that it doesn’t after seeing him carry the defense on more than one occasion when he was physically outmatched), but it was a pleasure to watch for 13 years. He’ll be missed.
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