April 24, 2012, 8:56 a.m.
Brian Dawkins has decided to retire after 16 seasons in the NFL, he announced Monday on Twitter. But the eight-time all-pro safety still has another decision to make: Does he want to be remembered as an Eagle or a Bronco?
Dawkins remains undecided about whether he should retire as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, the team with which he spent the first 13 years of his career, or the Denver Broncos, the team that showed him love when he felt spurned by the Eagles.
The Eagles reportedly have told Dawkins they want him to retire as member of their team.
"Brian Dawkins is one of my all-time favorite players and one of the best to ever put on an Eagles uniform," owner Jeffrey Lurie said.
"Everyone who ever watched Brian play saw that and it was impossible not to love that about him. He was one of the best leaders to ever play here."
The Eagles will honor Dawkins in a ceremony at Lincoln Field when they host the New York Giants in a nationally televised Sunday night game on Sept. 30.
Dawkins plans to return to Philadelphia for that event and also will be in town this weekend to meet with reporters, indicating that some of the wounds from his painful split with the Eagles may have healed.
But maybe not enough to retire as a member of the team.
“If I had too many bad feelings, I wouldn't be coming back at all,” said Dawkins, who has refuted the Eagles' claim that they made him an offer when his contract expired in 2008. “I grew to love the place, still love the place, and I'll just make that decision at some point.”
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