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09-21-2009, 10:38 PM
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http://www.gazette.com/sports/field-62481-altered-state.html
Altered state of consciousness directs Dawkins on field
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September 21, 2009 10:46 PM
FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD • Broncos safety Brian Dawkins is serious during the week, but usually more calm and thoughtful than insane.
He speaks with authority but somewhat quietly when asked questions.
He’s a 35-year-old family man who speaks earnestly about his religious faith.
On Sundays, there’s a different person inside the No. 20 jersey and helmet with the tinted visor. Dawkins has a never-ending resource of energy. Before the Broncos played Cincinnati two weeks ago, the team’s Web site had a camera on Dawkins as he got his teammates fired up.
There was nothing quiet or calm about it.
“Respect is not given, it is earned, doggone it!” Dawkins yelled in the pregame huddle and he bounced from side to side, watching his teammates’ reactions. “And they don’t respect us! Nobody respects us! You know what you’ve got to do in that situation?”
At that point, Dawkins’ voice became nearly demonic.
“Take it! Take it! Take the respect from somebody!” Dawkins said, hitting himself in the helmet and pacing about like he wanted to jump out of his skin. “Take it!”
While other players — Baltimore’s Ray Lewis and New Orleans’ Drew Brees are among them — put on a similar show in the pregame huddle, Dawkins’ motor never slows down, even when the defense isn’t on the field.
He’ll roam the sideline, even run onto the field when one of his offensive teammates goes down with an injury.
Whenever the offense or special teams are on the field, coach Josh McDaniels said Dawkins never stops shouting encouragement toward them.
“When I’m calling plays on offense, there’s not one time where I don’t hear him behind me,” McDaniels said. “And it’s all positive, it’s all the right things. And it’s not phony. It’s real leadership. Tremendous value in the things he says.”
The game wouldn’t be the same for Dawkins if he couldn’t be exuberant before the game, on the field or even on the sideline.
“I don’t take it for granted,” Dawkins said. “I love what I do. It is an opportunity for me to go out and have a great time.”
Give Dawkins credit for understanding his audience. For anyone who has turned on a NFL game and dreamed about playing the game with unbridled excitement and joy if given the chance, Dawkins is living the dream for you.
“(Fans) would love to do what I do for a living,” Dawkins said. “People come to the game to have a great time. I go to the games to have a great time. I am not going to allow anything to deter me from that.”
Dawkins said he was told in high school and college to tone it down, but that was never the case when he got to the NFL. So he lets it all hang out. He doesn’t script his pregame words. They come from pure emotion and adrenaline.
“I’m not trying to show off,” Dawkins said. “I do what I do. My teammates love it.”
http://www.gazette.com/sports/field-62481-altered-state.html
Altered state of consciousness directs Dawkins on field
Comments | Recommend
September 21, 2009 10:46 PM
FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE
ENGLEWOOD • Broncos safety Brian Dawkins is serious during the week, but usually more calm and thoughtful than insane.
He speaks with authority but somewhat quietly when asked questions.
He’s a 35-year-old family man who speaks earnestly about his religious faith.
On Sundays, there’s a different person inside the No. 20 jersey and helmet with the tinted visor. Dawkins has a never-ending resource of energy. Before the Broncos played Cincinnati two weeks ago, the team’s Web site had a camera on Dawkins as he got his teammates fired up.
There was nothing quiet or calm about it.
“Respect is not given, it is earned, doggone it!” Dawkins yelled in the pregame huddle and he bounced from side to side, watching his teammates’ reactions. “And they don’t respect us! Nobody respects us! You know what you’ve got to do in that situation?”
At that point, Dawkins’ voice became nearly demonic.
“Take it! Take it! Take the respect from somebody!” Dawkins said, hitting himself in the helmet and pacing about like he wanted to jump out of his skin. “Take it!”
While other players — Baltimore’s Ray Lewis and New Orleans’ Drew Brees are among them — put on a similar show in the pregame huddle, Dawkins’ motor never slows down, even when the defense isn’t on the field.
He’ll roam the sideline, even run onto the field when one of his offensive teammates goes down with an injury.
Whenever the offense or special teams are on the field, coach Josh McDaniels said Dawkins never stops shouting encouragement toward them.
“When I’m calling plays on offense, there’s not one time where I don’t hear him behind me,” McDaniels said. “And it’s all positive, it’s all the right things. And it’s not phony. It’s real leadership. Tremendous value in the things he says.”
The game wouldn’t be the same for Dawkins if he couldn’t be exuberant before the game, on the field or even on the sideline.
“I don’t take it for granted,” Dawkins said. “I love what I do. It is an opportunity for me to go out and have a great time.”
Give Dawkins credit for understanding his audience. For anyone who has turned on a NFL game and dreamed about playing the game with unbridled excitement and joy if given the chance, Dawkins is living the dream for you.
“(Fans) would love to do what I do for a living,” Dawkins said. “People come to the game to have a great time. I go to the games to have a great time. I am not going to allow anything to deter me from that.”
Dawkins said he was told in high school and college to tone it down, but that was never the case when he got to the NFL. So he lets it all hang out. He doesn’t script his pregame words. They come from pure emotion and adrenaline.
“I’m not trying to show off,” Dawkins said. “I do what I do. My teammates love it.”