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Dawkins Tuned In, Geared Up Despite Absence
June 20, 2007
Imagine how much intensity Brian Dawkins has stored up since the end of the 2006 season.
You see him pacing the sidelines before a game, and you see his rage when he is on the field. The days tick by slowly at this time of the year as the countdown to training camp continues. You are excited. How do you think Dawkins feels?
He wasn't able to attend the Eagles' post-draft camps and OTA's due to family matters -- more on that later -- and you can just believe he is frothing at the mouth waiting to hit somebody. Football is just around the corner, and Dawkins is amped.
"I can't wait to get back and get it going," he said. "I'm very excited about this defense. Very excited. With the parts that we have added -- and I'm not just talking about TKO (Takeo Spikes), but I am definitely excited that he is on my side and that we are going to make so many plays together it is going to be ridiculous -- but I think we have a lot of pieces in place here. We have our rotation going up front with some of those new guys. We have Bunk (Brodrick Bunkley), who now understands what an NFL season is all about. I'm expecting huge things out of him this year."
It was a different kind of off-season for Dawkins, who remained home with his family in Florida as he and wife Connie became parents of twins, born prematurely. Everything is fine at home, says Dawk, who loved every minute of the family experience.
Things continue to look up for star safety Brian Dawkins
Now, though, the itch is back. After a brilliant 2006 season, a Pro Bowl year and certainly one of the very best in his Hall of Fame-bound career, Dawkins has his sights set on the highest level of achievement in 2007.
What else is there to accomplish? The man has been to six Pro Bowls. He has been an All-Pro, he has been recognized as a player who helped revolutionize the position of free safety.
"You can always improve, always push yourself," said Dawkins, entering his 12th season. "I've worked extremely hard in this off-season. I didn't make it to camp, but I have been busting my hump here with my trainer to make sure that when I get to training camp, I'm going to be ready to roll, more than ready to roll.
"As a matter of fact, being at mini-camp and the OTA's prepares your mind. That's great. I enjoy that time, because you are around the guys and there is nothing but love and you are building something. But being away, I was able to stay in my normal workout. I feel like I have an extra three weeks, give or take, to get my workouts in. Now, I'm working out hard. It is intense stuff -- a lot of core exercises, working on my functional movement, my power, and I'm pushing myself to the limit and beyond -- so being away was, as I look at it, a positive situation to get ready for the season for me.
"I missed the guys, I missed the team and I know that is something I am very much looking forward to training camp."
The message from Brian Dawkins, then, live from Florida, is that all is well. Eagles fans should be excited, he says, because the team is ready to make another push. He loves Spikes for "the energy he has, the leadership he brings, the emotion he plays with and the hunger he has" and understands the Eagles have the horses to play great football now.
"I've been following things. I've been checking the web site, seeing what is happening, and I have talked with Coach (John) Harbaugh and watching some film from the mini-camp," said Dawkins. "I like it a lot. My mind is right. My body feels great.
"This is the first time in my career I missed the camps, and it was definitely a different thing. It was real tough for me to not be there with those guys, but it won't be long before I see them all.
"Just thinking about training camp and all the fans yelling and hollering out at Lehigh, it gets me excited. I think Eagles fans are going to lose their voices a little bit faster than usual this year. They're going to like this team. They're going to be yelling and hollering about all the big plays we're going to make."
There you go. Strap in. The Dawkins Amp Meter is a month away from popping off the charts and when it does, well, you will know it. You will see the great No. 20 at training camp bouncing around, jumping around like he has been here six months rather than 12 seasons.
"I know I'm going to feel like a little kid," he said.
Good thing, too. School is out for now, but it starts up soon enough for one of the Eagles' prized pupils to sit in the first row, hand raised, nostrils flaring.
Dawkins is fine, healthy, happy as can be, blessed to be where he is. It is a good place for BDawk -- husband, family man, star football player.
June 20, 2007
Imagine how much intensity Brian Dawkins has stored up since the end of the 2006 season.
You see him pacing the sidelines before a game, and you see his rage when he is on the field. The days tick by slowly at this time of the year as the countdown to training camp continues. You are excited. How do you think Dawkins feels?
He wasn't able to attend the Eagles' post-draft camps and OTA's due to family matters -- more on that later -- and you can just believe he is frothing at the mouth waiting to hit somebody. Football is just around the corner, and Dawkins is amped.
"I can't wait to get back and get it going," he said. "I'm very excited about this defense. Very excited. With the parts that we have added -- and I'm not just talking about TKO (Takeo Spikes), but I am definitely excited that he is on my side and that we are going to make so many plays together it is going to be ridiculous -- but I think we have a lot of pieces in place here. We have our rotation going up front with some of those new guys. We have Bunk (Brodrick Bunkley), who now understands what an NFL season is all about. I'm expecting huge things out of him this year."
It was a different kind of off-season for Dawkins, who remained home with his family in Florida as he and wife Connie became parents of twins, born prematurely. Everything is fine at home, says Dawk, who loved every minute of the family experience.
Things continue to look up for star safety Brian Dawkins
Now, though, the itch is back. After a brilliant 2006 season, a Pro Bowl year and certainly one of the very best in his Hall of Fame-bound career, Dawkins has his sights set on the highest level of achievement in 2007.
What else is there to accomplish? The man has been to six Pro Bowls. He has been an All-Pro, he has been recognized as a player who helped revolutionize the position of free safety.
"You can always improve, always push yourself," said Dawkins, entering his 12th season. "I've worked extremely hard in this off-season. I didn't make it to camp, but I have been busting my hump here with my trainer to make sure that when I get to training camp, I'm going to be ready to roll, more than ready to roll.
"As a matter of fact, being at mini-camp and the OTA's prepares your mind. That's great. I enjoy that time, because you are around the guys and there is nothing but love and you are building something. But being away, I was able to stay in my normal workout. I feel like I have an extra three weeks, give or take, to get my workouts in. Now, I'm working out hard. It is intense stuff -- a lot of core exercises, working on my functional movement, my power, and I'm pushing myself to the limit and beyond -- so being away was, as I look at it, a positive situation to get ready for the season for me.
"I missed the guys, I missed the team and I know that is something I am very much looking forward to training camp."
The message from Brian Dawkins, then, live from Florida, is that all is well. Eagles fans should be excited, he says, because the team is ready to make another push. He loves Spikes for "the energy he has, the leadership he brings, the emotion he plays with and the hunger he has" and understands the Eagles have the horses to play great football now.
"I've been following things. I've been checking the web site, seeing what is happening, and I have talked with Coach (John) Harbaugh and watching some film from the mini-camp," said Dawkins. "I like it a lot. My mind is right. My body feels great.
"This is the first time in my career I missed the camps, and it was definitely a different thing. It was real tough for me to not be there with those guys, but it won't be long before I see them all.
"Just thinking about training camp and all the fans yelling and hollering out at Lehigh, it gets me excited. I think Eagles fans are going to lose their voices a little bit faster than usual this year. They're going to like this team. They're going to be yelling and hollering about all the big plays we're going to make."
There you go. Strap in. The Dawkins Amp Meter is a month away from popping off the charts and when it does, well, you will know it. You will see the great No. 20 at training camp bouncing around, jumping around like he has been here six months rather than 12 seasons.
"I know I'm going to feel like a little kid," he said.
Good thing, too. School is out for now, but it starts up soon enough for one of the Eagles' prized pupils to sit in the first row, hand raised, nostrils flaring.
Dawkins is fine, healthy, happy as can be, blessed to be where he is. It is a good place for BDawk -- husband, family man, star football player.
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