Denver Broncos' Brian Dawkins (20) is introduced before the start of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won the game 30-27 on Sunday, December 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field. (ROB KANDEL / THE MORNING CALL / December 27, 2009)
The former standout Eagles safety, attired now in a Denver Broncos uniform, also received loud cheers, a standing ovation and even greater appreciation when fans chanted his name on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, That's what you get when you sweat, bleed, play with heart and soul, and of course, make big plays.
Many of Dawkins' hits during his 13 seasons in Philadelphia, seven as a Pro Bowler, were of the tooth-rattling nature.
Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown, a teammate of Dawkins for seven of those seasons, studied and studied the way Dawkins used to tackle.
On Sunday, Brown gave his good friend a special tribute when he flattened Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall in Dawkins-like fashion, then pointed over to Dawkins on the sidelines.
Much respect.
''By far, he's the guy I respect the most that I've ever played with, not by only what he does on the field, but off it,'' Brown said.
Much appreciated.
''Sheldon is a brother of mine, and still a great friend of mine, and he was doing that as a respect thing,'' Dawkins said, his eyes watery as he stood at the podium just outside the Denver locker room.
He wasn't emotional just because the Broncos (8-7) were defeated, 30-27, in a must-win game that puts their playoff chances in jeopardy, despite a stunning 6-0 start to the season.
Dawkins, all decked out in a black, pinstripe suit, sporty black hat, and black and white shoes, was emotional because he misses Brown and his ex-teammates.
''You know we went to battle,'' Dawkins said. ''We went to war for many, many years. And we built something there. And it was just respect for Sheldon and some other guys as far as that's concerned.''
After grabbing his baggage, connecting with a few old friends, Dawkins then made his way into the Eagles locker room. Most people, teammates and media, stopped.
Dawkins kept on stepping all the way to Donovan McNabb's locker. The two embraced.
Much love.
It was a moment Dawkins had been looking forward to just as much as his first game back in the city since signing a five-year, $17 million free-agent contract with the Broncos on Feb. 27.
Dawkins enjoyed the experience -- excluding the loss -- but it wasn't easy competing against the team with which he posted 1,241 tackles (solo and assisted combined) and 21 sacks and 33 interceptions.
''It was real, real nerve-racking,'' Dawkins said. ''I've been in big games before, but I was trying to control my emotions. It was real tough for this game, and mainly because we needed it so badly.''
Usually, Dawkins comes out before games and gets super pumped up with all kind of antics. Not so on Sunday.
''If he had come out, warmed up before the game he would have had to take an IV,'' Brown joked.
