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Weapon X becomes an ex-Eagle
When I was younger, I didn’t understand free agency or the offseason, or what went into building a team.
I can still remember when Reggie White signed the Green Bay Packers. I was in the car with my dad, and we were listening to WMMR and the DJ said that Reggie White was no longer an Eagle. I even remember the radio station playing a song that someone wrote about number 92. I was only seven years old at the time, and I asked my dad why White wasn’t playing for the Eagles anymore, and he told me that either the Eagles didn’t think he was good enough or that another team paid him a lot of money to play somewhere else.
When the rumors about Brian Dawkins visiting the Denver Broncos began to circulate, I figured that the only way that Weapon X would leave town is if someone was willing to throw an obscene amount of money at a 35-year-old safety who can’t cover a tight end anymore.
Well, the Denver Broncos filled that role, offering Dawkins more money than the Giants gave a 26-year-old running back – Brandon Jacobs – coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Yes, the Eagles could have matched the Broncos’ offer for sentimental reasons, but that wouldn’t help the Eagles win a Super Bowl. Despite how much I wish Dawkins would be back in Philadelphia next year, this is not the same as when Reggie White signed with the Packers. The difference here is that White still had a lot of football left in him, putting up four more double-digit sack seasons with the Packers, and a Super Bowl victory.
Dawkins doesn’t have anything close to that left in him. This was a fact that the Eagles knew, and if we really think about it, it was something the fans – myself included – knew all too well.
Back in September, we all watched as Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten torched Dawkins in a 41-37 loss for the Eagles. The following week, and for much of the season, Dawkins became a fourth linebacker, instead of being one of the Eagles four defensive backs.
Moving into the role of a fourth linebacker allowed Dawkins to extend his career, and have a great statistical season, but it wasn’t what the Eagles needed. While Dawkins led the Eagles’ defense with his heart, too many times last season, the Eagles needed a free safety who could play like the Brian Dawkins of ten years ago. The Eagles needed a safety that could hit like a linebacker, but could also cover a slot receiver or a tight end or a running back.
Enter Quintin Demps.
I don’t believe that Demps will be better than Dawkins this season, and neither did the Eagles, which is why they were willing to offer him a one-year deal. However, in 2010 and beyond, or perhaps even sooner, Demps will be better than Dawkins. It’s not often that you can find a free safety who can hit a truck, but is also talented enough as a rookie to surpass a former Pro Bowler (Lito Sheppard) and play the dime cornerback spot for the third best defense in the NFL.
With that in mind, I would rather see Dawkins play in Denver than watch Demps’ developing talent force Jim Johnson to bench number 20 for the good of the team.
In the end, this will happen to all of our favorite players. One day, Chase Utley will hit .230. One day, Jimmy Rollins won’t be able to gun down a runner from deep in the hole. One day, there will be fewer homers between Ryan Howard’s strikeouts. When those days come, a new group of infielders will take the field, and they will either make us cheer our hearts out or boo until our throats are sore.
As fans, we have to remember that as much as we idolize a certain group of players, we were fans of the team first. I liked the Eagles long before a certain safety was wearing Clemson University’s orange and purple, and I’ll like the Eagles long after that safety signs a one-day contract to retire in Eagle-green.
***
Like the "On the Edge" Blog? Hear more of my opinions about Philadelphia sports every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on WBCB 1490 AM during the Coffee with Kahuna show, where, this week, we will react to the first week of the NFL free agency period, and give you the latest in rumors and signings.
I can still remember when Reggie White signed the Green Bay Packers. I was in the car with my dad, and we were listening to WMMR and the DJ said that Reggie White was no longer an Eagle. I even remember the radio station playing a song that someone wrote about number 92. I was only seven years old at the time, and I asked my dad why White wasn’t playing for the Eagles anymore, and he told me that either the Eagles didn’t think he was good enough or that another team paid him a lot of money to play somewhere else.
When the rumors about Brian Dawkins visiting the Denver Broncos began to circulate, I figured that the only way that Weapon X would leave town is if someone was willing to throw an obscene amount of money at a 35-year-old safety who can’t cover a tight end anymore.
Well, the Denver Broncos filled that role, offering Dawkins more money than the Giants gave a 26-year-old running back – Brandon Jacobs – coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Yes, the Eagles could have matched the Broncos’ offer for sentimental reasons, but that wouldn’t help the Eagles win a Super Bowl. Despite how much I wish Dawkins would be back in Philadelphia next year, this is not the same as when Reggie White signed with the Packers. The difference here is that White still had a lot of football left in him, putting up four more double-digit sack seasons with the Packers, and a Super Bowl victory.
Dawkins doesn’t have anything close to that left in him. This was a fact that the Eagles knew, and if we really think about it, it was something the fans – myself included – knew all too well.
Back in September, we all watched as Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten torched Dawkins in a 41-37 loss for the Eagles. The following week, and for much of the season, Dawkins became a fourth linebacker, instead of being one of the Eagles four defensive backs.
Moving into the role of a fourth linebacker allowed Dawkins to extend his career, and have a great statistical season, but it wasn’t what the Eagles needed. While Dawkins led the Eagles’ defense with his heart, too many times last season, the Eagles needed a free safety who could play like the Brian Dawkins of ten years ago. The Eagles needed a safety that could hit like a linebacker, but could also cover a slot receiver or a tight end or a running back.
Enter Quintin Demps.
I don’t believe that Demps will be better than Dawkins this season, and neither did the Eagles, which is why they were willing to offer him a one-year deal. However, in 2010 and beyond, or perhaps even sooner, Demps will be better than Dawkins. It’s not often that you can find a free safety who can hit a truck, but is also talented enough as a rookie to surpass a former Pro Bowler (Lito Sheppard) and play the dime cornerback spot for the third best defense in the NFL.
With that in mind, I would rather see Dawkins play in Denver than watch Demps’ developing talent force Jim Johnson to bench number 20 for the good of the team.
In the end, this will happen to all of our favorite players. One day, Chase Utley will hit .230. One day, Jimmy Rollins won’t be able to gun down a runner from deep in the hole. One day, there will be fewer homers between Ryan Howard’s strikeouts. When those days come, a new group of infielders will take the field, and they will either make us cheer our hearts out or boo until our throats are sore.
As fans, we have to remember that as much as we idolize a certain group of players, we were fans of the team first. I liked the Eagles long before a certain safety was wearing Clemson University’s orange and purple, and I’ll like the Eagles long after that safety signs a one-day contract to retire in Eagle-green.
***
Like the "On the Edge" Blog? Hear more of my opinions about Philadelphia sports every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on WBCB 1490 AM during the Coffee with Kahuna show, where, this week, we will react to the first week of the NFL free agency period, and give you the latest in rumors and signings.
posted by Matthew Fleishman, Yardley News Editor at
12:21 AM
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