Veteran Dawkins giving unbeaten Broncos defensive boost

With Denver threatening to run away with the AFC West, there's a lot of talk about who or what is responsible. Usually, it starts with coach Josh McDaniels, but eventually the conversation gets around to people like defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, quarterback Kyle Orton, wide receiver Brandon Marshall and linebacker Elvis Dumervil.

Brian Dawkins may be 36 years old, but his productivity proves he's far from being too old for the game. (Getty Images)

But we're missing something ... er, someone there, and that someone is Brian Dawkins.

Just my opinion, but the Broncos would not be where they are today -- and I mean at or near the top of every defensive leader board -- without the 36-year-old safety. Dawkins is the glue that holds defenses together, and what he does for Denver the former All-Pro did for Philadelphia for 13 years.

I mention his age a) because he turned 36 Wednesday and b) because it was an issue when Dawkins wanted to re-sign earlier this year with the Eagles. Philadelphia historically hasn't had much interest in aging free agents, but Dawkins was supposed to be different because ... well, because he was different. He was the heart, the soul, the pulse of the defense and the team, and he and quarterback Donovan McNabb were the faces of the franchise.

It seemed implausible that the Eagles could move on without either, only they did. When Dawkins' contract expired earlier this year, they let him go to Denver when a two-year deal could have -- and would have -- kept him in Philadelphia.

Instead, in Dawkins' place the Eagles inserted the younger Quintin Demps and Macho Harris, then hired free-agent Sean Jones to serve as a safety net. I understood the move, but I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. Dawkins wasn't a disposable part about to wear out. As was before in Philly, he's a valuable asset on the field and in the locker room, and Denver is lucky to have him.

The stat sheet tells us he is tied for second on the team in tackles, second in deflected passes and first in fumble recoveries. But Dawkins' value cannot be measured by numbers. It's his leadership that makes him invaluable, and if you think leadership is overrated tell me why New England reached out again for linebacker Junior Seau. If you want to win, you better have winners in your locker room. Brian Dawkins fits the description.

"I am who I am, whatever guys want to label it," he said. "If I feel like saying something, I say something. My work ethic is what it is. I try to go out and bust my hump every time I take the football field, and that hasn't changed. I do what I can for my football team, and I say what I need to say, whether it's defense, offense or special teams. I don't step on anybody's toes, but I'm always there if they need me."

That's why I never understood how the Eagles could let him get away. He was always there when they needed him. So he turned 36. As Dawkins pointed out, age is just a number. Know the player, and know what he can do for you. What Dawkins did last year for Philadelphia was good and sometimes it was very good. Just because he is a year older doesn't mean he is a step slower. It could, but it doesn't. Dawkins was determined to prove that the moment he started practicing with the Broncos.

"I go into every year trying to prove something," he said. "That hasn't changed. That has always been my mentality from when I first came into the league as a second-rounder trying to prove that I should've been taken higher, when [critics] said I wasn't going to be able to make it.

"So every year my job is to come into training camp, earn my job, bust my hump and try to raise the standard. I try to play at a certain level every year, and that hasn't changed with age. I'm going to continue to push the envelope and see if I can increase my play."

So far so good. The Broncos are the feel-good story of the year, with Denver doing what nobody anticipated -- namely, winning. McDaniels was supposed to be in over his head. Orton was supposed to be an unsuitable quarterback. Marshall was supposed to be unsuitable, period. And Dawkins was supposed to be a descending star out of place on a decrepit defense. Only none of that took place, and now the Denver Broncos are one of five undefeated teams in the NFL and the early favorite in the AFC West.

"There was a lot of negative commentary about this team in the offseason," Dawkins said. "But we believe in our coaches, who were also spoken of about very negatively going into this season. Every week we know exactly what we need to do, and we're very accountable to one another. We hold our jobs to high standards, and we're going out there making plays. We don't quit. We don't stop. And the game is never over for us."

Apparently.

The Broncos' success is underscored by their play in the second halves of this year's games -- with the Broncos outscoring opponents 59-7, allowing no scores in their past four starts and checking opposing offenses on 28 of 30 first downs. That goes a long way toward explaining why they lead the league in fewest points allowed, and it tells me that Dawkins is filling the same role in Denver that he did with Philadelphia -- pulling the secondary, the defense and the entire team together.

So he's 36. Brett Favre just turned 40, and age doesn't seem to be an issue in Minnesota, where there's another undefeated team. In fact, owner Zygi Wilf already expressed interest in having Favre back in 2010.

"I'm blessed to be doing what I'm doing for a living, and I have a desire to have success," Dawkins said. "It doesn't matter what your age is; it matters what your body can do. And if my body can still do something at a high level at the age of 40, guess what? I'm going to be doing it at the age of 40. People get caught up in age too much. My job is to make sure I take care of myself, take care of my body, continue to say my prayers and allow God to keep me in football."

Dawkins is still in football, and if the fans of Philadelphia haven't caught him by now they can see him up close and personal in two-and-a-half months. On Dec. 27, the Broncos play the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in a game that could have playoff implications for both clubs and a lot of emotion for at least one of its participants.

"I haven't circled the date," said Dawkins, "but I know it's there. When that time comes I'll be jacked up, and I'll be as excited as anybody. I know I will. I know I'll be emotional, and it will probably be a big day for both of us. But that time is way off. We have too many good things to happen up to that point for me to start thinking about that."