Brian Dawkins Chokes Up Over Philly Exit

You hear it all the time -- sports is a business. And, yeah, that is certainly true. But sports also involves human beings, and human beings are saturated in emotion. It's only natural that there's sometimes a dissonance between those two polarities.

Take Brian Dawkins, for example. Dawkins has never been the type who seemed like he was in it for the money, and in Philadelphia he found a kindred spirit in that city and its team; their mission statements -- which emphasize passion, aggressiveness, and work ethic -- mirrored his own. But the damn business side of things got in the way this offseason, and now Dawkins is a Bronco. After 13 years, it's a tough separation for him, as this exit interview with a local television station makes clear.

Dawkins is obviously emotional throughout the entire interview, but finally can't go on when asked about the legacy he built in Philadelphia and whether his stature would automatically come with him to Denver. It was a fair question, for sure, but you can almost hear the wheels turning in Dawkins head as he realizes that everything he's known as "home" over the last decade-plus is no longer a reality. As a fan of a team who also just lost its team, locker room, and community leader, I feel for the guy.

Some might question the sincerity of Dawkins' emotion, given that he could have decided that it was Philly or no one, believing that choosing another team over retirement is sacrilege. Yet that's soapbox talk; we're in no position to tell a man what to do with his life. In situations like this, a player is forced to choose between a city/team he loves and a game that is, in most cases, the only way of life he's ever known. You can't judge a man for the choice he makes in that circumstance.

Dawkins' body will be in a Broncos jersey this year, but something tells me his soul will always live in Philadelphia. I also think he'll be welcomed pretty warmly by Broncos fans -- the passion Dawkins displays here is an asset to any team, on or off the field.

HT: Sports Radio Interviews

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

3-01-2009 @ 10:55AM

Good Life 4 Me said...

I am a native Philadelphian, and I understand how tough it is to leave that dingy old city. The people are a bunch of hard knuckled cynics, but that's what we love about each other. In a fight u want someone from Philly to have your back. Dawk has been a class act from day 1, and that team and the city will miss him terribly. I wish him the best for the rest of his career.

3-02-2009 @ 3:10AM

Mike said...

"Some might question the sincerity of Dawkins' emotion, given that he could have decided that it was Philly or no one, believing that choosing another team over retirement is sacrilege."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't think anyone can question the man if Philly doesn't think he's worth enough to resign at a value other teams are willing to pay him.

People who may be upset at Philly also need to remember that this is a "future" business and all contracts need to be geared on what you can DO for the team, not what you've DONE for the team. You cannot reward players for past play at the expense of the future, especially if they can no longer play at the same level they did in the past. That's just the nature of the beast....because of a hard salary cap, you always have to think "what can this player bring to the field THIS season" unless you like living in the past.

You don't pay your car dealer extra a year after purchase because your car performed better than you expected it would.

3-01-2009 @ 11:06AM

wingsman1 said...

While walking into a sports bar in West Virginia, there were a group of Pittsburgh Steelers loyalists discussing Dawkins leaving. Wearing my Philly Eagles sweatshirt - they turned to me and asked "What is wrong with the Philly management to let the heart and soul leave the team. Pittsburgh would never do that". I said that is why Pitt is a winner and Philly will never be.. with this current staff.......

3-01-2009 @ 6:21PM

Nick said...

at least you can admit it. makes the let down a lot easier. #20 is great athlete, and it's too bad he'll be somewhere else.

3-02-2009 @ 1:42AM

Marc said...

wingsman,

Your comment shows how little you know about sports. Did Franco Harris finish his career as a Steeler??? No, he finished it as a Seahawk. So don't tell me Pittsburgh would NEVER do such a thing. I would say the 49ers and Cowboys are both organizations on par with the Steelers...Would they do such a thing? Let's see did Joe Montana (arguably the greatest QB ever) or Jerry Rice (arguably the greatest WR ever) finish their careers with the 49ers? No, Montana finished with the Chiefs and Rice went on to the Raiders and Seahawks. Emmit Smith is the NFL's all time leading rusher, did he finish his career with the Cowboys? Nooooooo he finished his with the Cardinals.How about Namath with the Jets? Nope. Unitas with the Colts? Nope. O.J. with the Bills? Nope. It happens all the time, get your facts straight genius.

3-01-2009 @ 11:18AM

country said...

Thats a gap that cant be filled in Philly. Its secondary now relies on Samuels. They need to go out gran Hoosh and Ray Lewis, otherwise its another season watching someone else win. I also think that Mcnabb should be sent off somewhere else, his days here are overdone and his antics are tiring

3-01-2009 @ 11:27AM

Craiggers said...

Hey Im a die hard Skins fan and its gonna be weird for me not seein Dawkins out on the field. Hes one hell of a player.

3-01-2009 @ 11:41AM

broadstbulllly1 said...

Brian Dawkins is a class act and will be missed
in philly! I am a life long EAGLES fan and I will miss B.D. every game. Brian I wish you all the best and THANK YOU for all of your devotion. To bad Jeffery Lurie has no lolalty (BASTARD)! Brian you will always be an EAGLE to me! I still will be rooting for you in Denver.

3-01-2009 @ 11:26PM

Krotchy said...

Class act? He is the master of the cheap shot...

3-01-2009 @ 12:03PM

michael said...

i too am a Redskin fan and can't believe they let him go. i wish him all the luck somewhere else.way to go eagles.

6-15-2009 @ 8:18PM

kokeman said...

I am having trouble finding one great play dawkins made other then tackling and forced fumbles. Cant cover NO SPEED.Eagles made the right decision for someone who was on the verge of retirement.He took the money ran.

3-01-2009 @ 12:13PM

midepic said...

As a die hard Cowboys fan for 36 years I truly cant believe they let the glue that held the defense together walk to another team. As a player I disliked him because he was that good when he faced the Cowboys! As a person I respect him for being that quiet unsung hero and did his job to very well! Never was in news over the drama some players create! Dawkins is and will always be a dynamic player and the Eagles really screwed up by letting him go! Wish the Cowboys would have made him an offer! He truly is that good and still has several good years left to his career! Another reason why the Eagles will never win a Super Bowl!

3-01-2009 @ 12:20PM

Mr.MingMerciless said...

NOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

3-01-2009 @ 12:37PM

Heartbreak Kid said...

Good....now Philly will just suck more

3-01-2009 @ 1:54PM

jim said...

BO HOO LOYALITY DOES NOT EXIST IN SPORTS ANY MORE IT IS ALWAYS FOR THE MONEY BE HONEST

3-01-2009 @ 2:03PM

Frank and Angela said...

The Eagles let the heart and soul of their defense get away. There is no logic to this. Eagles should have given him a contract for life. I live in Philly and I've seen it all. When Leonard Tose was the owner he knew about loyalty and team spirit, something Jeffrey Laurie will never know about. I still bleed eagles green, though not quite as much

3-01-2009 @ 2:36PM

Ski said...

Brian there are a lot of Pittsburgh and Philly fans in Denver. A lot more than one would think. You will be welcomed with open arms just wait and see. THE MILE HIGH CITY WELCOMES YOU!!!

3-01-2009 @ 2:41PM

awfton said...

Once again money trumps loyalty in sports. Still, if I was in his shoes, or any player for that matter, I would do the same. Afterall, it is a business first, sport second. College ball is still somewhat a sport first, cash second. But for how long?

3-01-2009 @ 6:27PM

you're right about one thing; money trumps loyalty, but you're wrong if you think it's brian dawkins that lacks the loyalty. it's the eagles management that did not act to retain him, and therefore the blame gets placed on management, not Brian Dawkins. they tried to save money and disrespected their fans and one of their greatest defensive players in team history. shame!!!

3-01-2009 @ 3:46PM

BoLaNd said...

the eagles made the biggest mistake of the offseason. we will see how the defense rallys when they need a boost....they propablly wont because they lost their leader....and if the eagles were smart i would have kept lito and moved brown in as saftey and they would be the BEST SECONDARY in the leauge with samuel. but thats our eagles front officce screwing thigs up again