I took a few days off from Eagles free agency coverage to mourn the loss of Brian Dawkins.  I’ve always thought, even in an era where it’s uncommon for any given player to play for a single team his entire career, that Brian Dawkins would retire an Eagle.  It was extremely depressing when I heard the news that Dawkins had signed with another team.  Although Brian Dawkins will always be an Eagle, it was a tough pill to swallow to realize that he’ll be wearing another team’s colors when it is his time to retire.  What are the stages to recovery: anger, denial, regret, anger, acceptance?

I can’t believe the front office would just let him go like that: like a bad piece of meat that’s been spoiled.  I have a hard time believing that the front office couldn’t come up with a two-year, $9 million contract to make Dawkins happy.  The Eagles are thin at safety.  They let Sean Considine go to the Jaguars to plague another team with his awfulness.  The Eagles are clearly trying to get younger, but Dawkins, in my mind, should be an exception to the “Eagles youth movement.”  Although I may have to admit that his skills in coverage aren’t what they were in previous years, he can still play at an extremely high level, and he is the leader of the defense, team, and locker room.  I don’t see how the Eagles front office can say with a straight face that Quintin Demps will be a better option than Brian Dawkins over the next two years.  Right now they only have two safeties on their roster and have several needs to address in the draft before they even add another safety.

I just don’t see the logic in the move.  I can understand from a disinterested GM’s standpoint that it doesn’t hurt to make a team younger, but how can you make such a bold move when you have a player like Brian Dawkins — the greatest Eagle of all time, are already thin at safety, and risk pissing off the entire fan base.  I just don’t get it.

Let’s see what’s going on in Eagles Nation.  First you have McNabb saying that before he even considers a new deal, he’ll have to see what the Eagles do to improve the team through free agency, which begins this Friday at midnight, and the draft.

Stay tuned for Eagles to sign Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas soon.  The Eagles also locked up Joselio Hanson for 5-years, $21 million.  Great move!  The secondary is set and Lito Sheppard is now expendable for whatever we can get for the guy, 3rd-round pick perhaps?  I’m sure the Lions or Chiefs will want/need him.

The news from the Combine: Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry whooed the hell out of scouts with his workout and he may go as high as #3 to the Chiefs; Andre Smith, the highly coveted Alabama OT, who was set to be a top-10 lock, had a mental/physical meltdown and left the combine without telling anyone, thus killing his stock and his paycheck dramatically; there’s an impressive list of 40 times from WRs, so the Eagles have some solid options outside the first round, and the RBs (notably Beanie Wells and even Knowshon Moreno) posted poor 40 times.

But the big buzz lately is Marvin Harrison.  The Colts cut Marvin Harrison and Harrison will be a free agent.  Yes, he’s 36 and his production has declined after his knee injury, but a return to his hometown with his college quarterback is the feel-good story floating around and the Eagles need another WR to make McNabb happy.  He’s a cheaper option that Houshmandzadeh, so this may work out quite well.  Here’s some supplemental reading on Marvin Harrison/Eagles talk:

Eagles Rumors: Marvin Harrison homecoming? [Recliner GM]

Eagles Would be Smart to Make Push For Harrison [Eagles Gab]

Schefter predicts Marvin Harrison to the Eagles? [Bleeding Green Nation]

Oh, and Ray Lewis want to play for the Cowboys.

If I had to give you my top 3 Eagles of 2009, it would have to be in this order: Brian Dawkins, DeSean Jackson, and Asante Samuel.  To celebrate these players and their contributions, here are some new wallpapers dedicated to their domination in the NFL.

1.) Brian Dawkins — At 35 years young, Brian Dawkins is still a force to reckon with.  The 7-time Pro-Bowler hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down as he continues to be one of the NFL’s elite safeties.  Before what seems to be an eternal man has to retire, let’s get him a Super Bowl victory to cap off what has been an incredible career.

2.) DeSean Jackson — An unbelievable rookie season from the sensational Cal product.  Eagles Nation’s prayers were answered when he was drafted by the Eagles 49, about 40 spots in the draft too late for his production this year.  Can DeSean Jackson be the next Steve Smith?  It didn’t take long before we found that out.  When you get over 200 yards in your rookie debut, you know you have a special player on your hands.  We look forward to many more great seasons from D-Jack.

3.) Asante Samuel — The big-money corner paid huge dividends this year, especially in the playoffs where he had two huge interceptions (one a pick six, which led the Eagles over the Vikings and another against the Giants to set up a TD and the W).  They say big players come up big in big games and Asante proved that statement true.

Dawkins, thank you for the Pittsburgh game.  You are truly a super hero.  This one is dedicated to you being awesome.