Dawkins gets worthy ovation; Vick out
It was a moment. It was Brian Dawkins' moment.
Dawkins emerged from the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field and thousands of fans erupted. Except this time something was different. Dawkins wasn't running from the tunnel and through a blow-up eagle that he had run from and through for 13 seasons. The former Eagles safety was a visiting player and he made his return to the stadium he once called home today.
He received an ovation from the Philadelphia fans worthy of a player that gave his heart and soul to the city's football team for 13 years. Dawkins, meanwhile, went through his normal introductory histrionics. He danced and then did a somersault into a handstand. He then ran into a cameraman. It was some show. He looked ready to rip off someone's head.
Dawkins chose to skip pre-game warm-ups despite the fact that every other active Broncos player did. On Wednesday, Dawkins told Philadelphia reporters that he may stay away from pre-game warm-ups because he might be too emotional.
If you look around the Linc at the early arrivals, there are a bunch of fans who apparently broke out their No. 20 Eagles jerseys for the occasion. There are also a few Dawkins Broncos jerseys, as well.
Former Eagle Correll Buckhalter, meanwhile, made his return to the Linc in another uniform. The Broncos running back is active and will back up Knowshon Moreno.
As far as the Eagles' list of inactives goes, Michael Vick is out for the first time since returning to the NFL in Week 3. The quarterback has a thigh bruise, but will dress as the emergency third quarterback. Kevin Kolb is active and will be the backup quarterback.
Safety Quintin Demps is out with an ankle sprain. Macho Harris will thus go back to returning kicks. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis is also inactive. He returned last week after missing the previous 11 games with a knee injury, but now that Jeremy Maclin is back the Eagles decided not to carry a fifth receiver.
The remaining inactives are all healthy scratches: G Stacy Andrews, G, Mike McGlynn, TE Martin Rucker, DT Trevor Laws and CB Geoffrey Pope.