nfl

Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens Not Named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Brian Dawkins, one of the most popular Eagles ever and a nine-time Pro Bowl safety, fell short of the necessary votes for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 
Dawkins, who works in the Eagles' personnel office, was among 15 finalists considered Saturday by a panel of sports writers meeting at the Super Bowl in Houston.
  
Those selected will be formally enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 5. 
 
Dawkins visited the Hall of Fame in 2006, when the Eagles faced the Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game and White was inducted, and he made sure to spend some time exploring.
 
On Quick Slants on Comcast SportsNet in August, he spoke about that experience and what it would mean to one day join those already enshrined in Canton.
 
"I remember the feeling that I felt looking at the busts, seeing all those guys and seeing the hallowed walls as they call it, the hallowed hallway of all those busts, and to just imagine myself being in there," he said.
 
"I could do that because at that point. I had put some good years together. That would be a tremendous opportunity and a tremendous thing for not just me, it's not just me. I know you always thank your teammates and all that stuff but this fanbase as well because they deserve a lot better than what people give them. 
 
"They don't give this fanbase the benefit of the doubt. Now, there are also knuckleheads who do some crazy stuff but there are knuckleheads who do crazy stuff in every town. It just so happens that this town gets beat up for it. But I'm fine with all of that. Whatever. Whatever. I just know that this fanbase deserves to celebrate. 
 
"So if I get into that Hall of Fame, you think that I will be the only one celebrating? No. We're going to have a good time. We're going to have a party."
 
It's historically extremely difficult for safeties to get into the Hall of Fame.
 
There are only seven pure safeties in the Hall of Fame, plus three others who split time at cornerback and safety.
 
The only pure safety who never played cornerback who's been enshrined in Canton in the last quarter century is long-time Viking Paul Krause, the NFL's all-time interception leader at 79. Krause retired in 1979 but didn't get in until 1998.
 
But Dawkins truly revolutionized the position, combining playmaking in the back end with physical run support and his signature big hits.
 
Dawkins had 34 interceptions with the Eagles, tied with Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the franchise record. He also had 36 forced fumbles, most ever by a safety, and 19 fumble recoveries, fourth-most by a safety. He added 26 sacks.
 
He's one of only six players in NFL history with 25 interceptions and 25 sacks and the only one of the six who also had 25 forced fumbles.
 
Dawkins left the Eagles acrimoniously after the 2008 season and finished his career playing three seasons with the Broncos, earning Pro Bowl honors twice.
 
The Eagles announced in July that Dawkins had joined the team's scouting department. 

Former Eagle Terrell Owens was also not named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday after being named as one of the 15 finalists. Owens commented on it on Twitter.

Copyright CSNPhily
Contact Us