Stick a Fork in Him

Let me just get this out of the way up front. I love Brian Dawkins. I love him a wierd, brotherly kind of way. If he showed up at my house around dinner time, I would just set him a place at the table and not ask him football-related questions. We would discuss awesome things, like how he likes Wolverine, and why he kept wearing shirt sleeves on his head with "B-Dawk" and "Weapon-X" written on them with a sharpie. I think we would be friends.

The man is done. It's time for him to hang them up.

I don't put the blame on him for the T.O. goaline catch against the Cowboys. T.O. scores off that pattern if he's single covered by anybody. But I've noticed some things in the last two years.

I trace them back to the 2006 season, also known as the "Finally We have an Undersized, Undertalented, White Quarterback Who's Fiery," season with Jeff Garcia. Dawk had a foot injury nearly that entire year, walking around in a boot during the week and playing on Sunday. He also played completely out of his mind, both in coverage and run support. He made plays on the ball, delivered hits, and always came through for a team that, quite frankly, wasn't very good.

But that greatness came at a cost. Much like Celtics great Kevin McHale, playing with that quasi-undisclosed foot injury had long-term repercussions. He showed signs of losing a step in 2007, small things. We all remember that great hog-tie tackle of a Giants RB near the goaline last year...but the reason that play was necessary was Dawk got beat to the edge. He was in position, He read the play, he just couldn't get there.

Last week, the Cowboys passing game exposed both Dawkins and Consedine. This week against the Steelers, Dawk made some great plays...blitzing. Dawk was around the line of scrimmage on passing downs. D-Coordinator Jim Johnson is covering up for him, keeping his weaknesses from being exposed.

Dawkins makes great plays on the ball, and is the best blitzer from the secondary I have ever seen. But, like all great things, his time appears to be coming to an end. After the season, I think he and the Eagles should have a talk. He's been the heart of this franchise since the Ray Rhodes era, but the time has come to close this chapter in his life.