Cleaning out his locker Sunday, Brian Dawkins stopped to talk about what he described as “a roller coaster ride” of a season.
“In the middle of that roller coaster ride, there was an up that nobody saw coming from where we started,” Dawkins said. “It was some joy, it was some believing in teammates, it was a character-builder, it was young players growing up, and it did a lot for this team to help us get into the playoffs.”
Dawkins doesn’t buy that the team “backed in” to the postseason.
“No,” he said. “We earned that spot.”
But once the team got there, Dawkins wasn’t able to join his teammates on the field.
After suffering a neck injury against the Chicago Bears, Dawkins missed four of the team’s remaining five games, exiting the one game he played in the first quarter after aggravating the injury.
Dawkins was listed as doubtful for the team’s Divisional round matchup with the New England Patriots, and when Saturday came, he couldn’t suit up.
“It was very disappointing,” he said. “Obviously I want to listen to what the doctors were telling me, and this is what they were telling me, that it’s not ready to go. I would’ve done nobody any good to be on the field and get hurt again and be right back off. Then we also lose a spot for a guy who could actually play that week. It’s very, very frustrating not to be on the football field to help my guys out on the field.
“Lord willing, if we would’ve won this past week, it would’ve taken a move from on high to keep me off the field this coming week if we had passed this last test.”
But Dawkins is left to wonder what if. He won’t let that emotion affect his decision-making as he gets a little time away from the game this offseason.
As he does every year, he’ll work to determine his future plans through prayer.
“Like I always do, where I am in my career, obviously I’ll get down and get in some prayer, get away from the game a little bit and allow the Lord to talk to me and speak to me on what it is He would have me to do next,” he said. “If I decide that I’m listening and He tells me that another year is available for me and the Broncos want me back, then that will be the case.”
Head Coach John Fox said Monday that he told Dawkins, like every other player, to “take a nice, long break.”
“I told them we would do whatever it takes to win the Big Boy Championship and not just the AFC West Championship,” Fox said.
Dawkins said he’s excited about the fight the Broncos showed in 2011.
As for where the team goes from here, he said “it’s up to us.”
He stressed the importance of training in the offseason, and holding firm in the belief in what the Broncos are building in Denver.
“We just laid the foundation, to me, of what we can be as a football team,” he said. “From here, we have to take it and be better next year.”
Tags: Brian Dawkins
Actually approximately half of this blog wanted a CB, Peterson. Just ask TRB, haha.
I tell you what I think, the biggest steal of last year draft was JJ Watt, talk about a QB killer, Houston struck gold there.
I don’t like taking Rbs in the first round but, anybody thinking about this guy Lamar Miller? He’s Clinton Portis’ clone:o
There are very few safeties better at the line of scrimmage then my main man Brian Dawkins the WOLVERINE. Brian Dawkins is a TRUE PRO.
I think we need to go defense heavy in the draft. When our defense plays well it helped our offense stay in the game when they weren’t performing well. I think we do need help on offense but a lot of that failure was due to Tebow not being able to pass adequately. While I do think we need a RB, Ball showed some spark and Fannin I thought looked decent in preseason until he got hurt. That along with maybe a good FA pickup we can effectively have a good ground game coupled with Tebow. I think if we go the other way and go heavy on the offense then we’ll rely too much on outscoring our opponents too much like the Colts and we all saw what happened to them. Their defensive troubles were always masked by Manning’s ability to outscore his opponents.
Well Brian, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about your last sentence for a while, at least as long as Fox is HC. The D is always going to be very good and the O is going to be average, that’s how Fox operates. Fox ball!
LOL@theCOLTS
ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ
The one not laughing is probably Andrew Luck….
Pretty good description, LOL.
The only offensive position I`d draft is RB, and ALL DEFENSE with the rest of our picks. I`d go after offense in FA including WR and OL.
In time, with the help of the GREATEST EVER HOPEFULLY T twice will be a POCKET PASSIN ASSASSIN and leave the opposition with their PANTS CRAPPIN.
Or leave the opposition with their HANDS CLAPPIN
Speaking of the Colts. After all the changes going on, i am leaning towards Payton Manning being traded to another team. How would you guys feel if we went after him?
My take is that would be a fantastic move. I think he will come back just fine from his injury. I think that and a good defensive draft puts us as serious contenders.
I realize this is unlikely to happen but “What if?”
Sorry to hear that freestyle skier Sarah Burke died from her earlier skiing accident. Brings back some of the bad side of things in my memory bank…
I am not a fan and i dont think the colts are either of 28mil for one player.
I can tell you right know that I have absolutely zero confidence that the organization would pay the kind of money that Manning will seek. A team like the Jets might fork it out, but not our current Broncos. But you could enter that in oldsouth’s bold prediction contest, haha.
That is definitely eye opening. May GOD rest your soul Sarah Burke. R.I.P.
That’s if they keep him as is, they could always try to re-work that contract and if they let him go no way any team would pay him that, not with that neck issue, it’s out of the question.
I thought Sarah Burke was very attractive.
I lost a few friends to skiing, a real close one in a galande jumping event, he was a fellow speed skiing competitor of mine and two others in avalanches. Once you are into extreme skiing stuff it gets pretty hairy, it’s a lifestyle choice you can pay dearly for, in a way I got lucky even so I got beat to a pulp…
That is why you will NEVER catch me on a slope. Keep me on the basketball court and the football field that is my WORLD.
I would RATHER go to CHURCH with my MOM then EVER ski again.
Sorry about that Bay that is REAL TALK man.
Avalanches wow that is SCARY STUFF.
LOL@PACKER nation for their GIANT meltdown LOL@NO PAC NO!!!!!
new blog
I talked hubby into letting me deck our bedroom in Bronco’s gear. He is ok with it because it is the same colors as the Gators LOL>
And the Brown’s colors are really depressing.
Yeah, a better place for Browns colors is the bathroom, LOL.
LOL
missed you for the playoffs but your health comes first. really hope you are back next season for what i think will be a good one especially if you are there