Posted on Sat, Feb. 28, 2009
Dawkins, Buckhalter depart Eagles for Denver; Considine joins Jaguars
By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News
bowenl@phillynews.com
HOPES DASHED, raised, and dashed again?
Several hours after a San Francisco Chronicle report about Brian Dawkins' agreeing to a contract with the Denver Broncos rocked Eagles Nation yesterday afternoon, agent Jim Steiner, asked to clarify, texted the Daily News that he was "in negotiations," which is not usually what agents say when they have reached an agreement.
Then late last night, profootballtalk.com reported Dawkins indeed had agreed to terms with Denver.
The Broncos announced some signings yesterday, including the 4-year deal struck with Eagles free-agent running back Correll Buckhalter. They did not announce anything about Dawkins, 35, whose fierce play and plainspoken style won him a legion of fans. Strong safety Quintin Mikell has called Dawkins "the cornerstone of the defense and this team."
Earlier, Steiner confirmed that Dawkins was visiting Denver, which was shocking enough, given that the Eagles had seemed to think they would be able to sign the 13-year veteran, Philadelphia's longest-tenured pro athlete and one of the most beloved sports figures the city has seen. Dawkins, who did not respond to messages from the Daily News, has said any number of times that his preference is to finish his career where he started it, as a second-round draft choice from Clemson in 1996.
Dawkins told reporters late in the season that he knew his big-money days were behind him, and he indicated he would not be difficult to sign.
"I think we'll be able to get something done," he said during Super Bowl week in Tampa, where he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as NFL Man of the Year, just before jetting off to Hawaii for his seventh Pro Bowl, with the Eagles' coaching staff.
The Eagles are known for pressing an advantage; though they are thought to have made an offer to Dawkins well before free agency commenced, it was not an offer Steiner found acceptable. The front office seemed to be counting on Dawkins' desire to stay to carry the day.
Overall, the first day of free agency seemed to signal an offseason of change for the Eagles, even if it wasn't clear last night whether that change would include Dawkins. Buckhalter, an Eagle since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2001, is gone, for the opportunity to start that eluded him here, in the shadow of Brian Westbrook. The pending signing of Stacy Andrews to a deal that reportedly is worth $7 million a year seems to signal the end of the proud, distinguished reign of Jon Runyan at right offensive tackle. Everybody knew L.J. Smith was leaving, but the news he was in Atlanta for a visit somehow made it official. The NFL Network last night reported that disgruntled Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard is being shipped to the Jets for a fifth-round pick in 2009 and a conditional draft pick in 2010 that could range from the second to the fourth round.
Tra Thomas, 34, an Eagle since 1998, is sitting on the free-agency block this morning, not headed anywhere yet, but most definitely not signed here, after 11 seasons guarding the quarterback's blind side. Agent Peter Schaffer said he had no comment on Thomas' situation last night. The Eagles have made an offer to Thomas, sources have said, but not one Schaffer and Thomas found adequate.
Sean Considine, ineffective as a starter at safety, but strong on special teams, spent yesterday visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars and then signing a reported 2-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Could nickel cornerback Joselio Hanson, signed last week, be the lone returnee from the Birds' group of half-a-dozen unrestricted free agents?
Runyan did not return calls from the Daily News last night. He told a radio interviewer yesterday that he assumed the Andrews signing meant he would not be returning to the Eagles. Runyan has consistently said he will play somewhere next season, as he rehabs from right knee microfracture surgery at 35.
Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowl corner, was replaced by Asante Samuel last offseason and asked to be traded. When that didn't happen, he suffered through a listless season, which ended with a benching. Sheppard will get a chance to start over in New York and earn the new contract he has sought.
Though Dawkins' departure would be the most disappointing from the fans' perspective, that was not quite the way things were shaping up midway through the season. The Eagles were struggling, and many observers reluctantly took it for granted that Dawkins and most of the other high-mileage vets would be departing when their contracts expired.
Then Dawkins, in a slightly reworked role that left him exposed in deep coverage less often, rallied down the stretch, as did the team. The Eagles made the playoffs and advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Dawkins returned to the Pro Bowl, showing he hadn't lost his zest for forcing turnovers and creating havoc. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December.
Dawkins is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (183) and is tied with Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the lead in interceptions (34). Eagles coach Andy Reid this season said Dawkins is "going to go down as one of the all-time greats to play his position - we're talking about a guy who should be in the Hall of Fame when it's all said and done."
Everybody involved seemed to be hoping all would not be said and done for Dawkins in Philadelphia for a few more years; earlier this week, an ad on the team's Web site for a March fan cruise featured Dawkins' image, as it has for months. Yesterday, the ad was not in its usual position. *
For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.
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