Guinness....and other Philly fans...

[Wagner]

hree Eagles Make Pro Bowl


December 19, 2006
By DAVE SPADARO

Safety Brian Dawkins, offensive guard Shawn Andrews and cornerback Lito Sheppard have been named to the NFC's Pro Bowl squad. Dawkins and Andrews were named as starters.

Brian Westbrook, L.J. Smith and Jeremiah Trotter were named as alternates.

Dawkins makes his sixth Pro Bowl, and it certainly well deserved. He is likely to be a strong candidate for NFC Defensive Player of the Month award for his play in December while leading the Eagles to three consecutive victories.

Dawkins has a career-high 144 tackles, including five for a loss, one sack, three interceptions, and five forced fumbles. He also earned Pro Bowl honors after the 1999, 2001-02, and 2004-05 seasons. Dawkins' six Pro Bowl appearances tie him with Pete Pihos for third in team history behind Chuck Bednarik (8) and Reggie White (7).

Brian Dawkins: Pro Bowl Number 6
With those three interceptions, Dawkins has moved into fourth place on the team's all-time list with 31, three behind leaders Eric Allen and Bill Bradley.

Dawkins has won a franchise-record 91 games in an Eagles uniform since joining the team as a second-round draft pick in 1996. Leading the team with five interceptions and the entire NFL with 156 interception return yards, Sheppard notched his second Pro Bowl berth in just his third season as a full-time starter.

Philadelphia's first-round draft pick in 2002 also earned a spot on the NFC squad after the 2004 campaign. In 2006, Sheppard returned from a three-game hiatus (ankle injury) with a two-interception outing vs. Dallas, including a dramatic, 102-yard return for the game-clinching touchdown in the waning seconds.

As a result, Sheppard became the first player in NFL history to post two 100-yard-plus interception returns for touchdowns in a career. Sheppard also clinched a win vs. Carolina by intercepting a Jake Delhomme pass in the end zone with 28 seconds to play in a 27-24 victory.

Earning his first career Pro Bowl berth, Andrews has started 31 games at right guard for the Eagles, including all 14 this year, after being the club's first-round draft choice in 2004. He landed a starting role during his rookie season and one year later was voted as an alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl squad.

Andrews missed all but one game in 2004 after suffering a fractured fibula in the season opener. In 2006, Andrews has paved the way for the NFL's third-ranked offense in total yards (377.4 yards per game) and sixth-ranked offense in terms of scoring (25.1 points per game).

Westbrook, having a brilliant season with 1,756 yards from scrimmage and averaging 6.1 yards per touch, was named a first alternate to the NFC team. Smith, who has 48 receptions and 5 touchdowns, and Trotter, who has been to four Pro Bowls, were named second alternates to the NFC team.

We will have more coverage as we have player interviews later in the day. Stay tuned to PhiladelphiaEagles.com for complete reaction to the news.

[ljnlaw]

B-Dawk and Andrews definitely deserve to be starters. Dawkins is having an insane year! Hopefully B-Dawk and Omar Gaither will have another great game and the boys will put the smack down on the Cowboys on Christmas and be in the driver seat to pull off the division once again.

[Wagner]

Dawkins had 12 tackles this week with 11 solo, 2 forced fumbles and a pick.

SWEET.

Not to mention apparently Dawkins hurt his calf muscle in warm-ups and was almost considered to be pulled out of the game before it started. That man is INSANE. Plus he is such a class act. On his phone conference call today a guy asked him "do you see yourself like a Reggie White going down in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles", his reply "Man I still get surprised when I see kids wearing my jersey".

In this day and age it is nice to know there are pro athletes like that.

[ljnlaw]

Very refreshing indeed. My uncle Jack Edelstein who passed away a few years ago, was the Eagle Stat. man for years. My cousin in LA is currently holding onto his 1980 NFC Champ. ring and 1960 Champ ring. Jack sat up in the press box between Stan "the man" Walters and Merril Reese. Back in the late 80's and early '90s he took me and occasionally some buddies to a hand full of Birds practices and into the locker room after some games and practices. Those guys were cages animals on the field but gentle giants one on one. Reggie, Clyde and Jerome were all very soft spoken and down to earth. I even got to meet Randall back in his gerry curl days. Other than T.O. the Eagles players have always taken pride in connecting with the community, donating to charities and reaching out to people less fortunate. They were the first team in league history to orgainze team charities like "the Eagles Fly for Leukemia" fund and don't forget that the Eagles helped launch the 1st Ronald McDonald House in Philly to help the families of sick children around the country. Now there is a Ronald McDonald House in every Pro Football city around the country (I believe that one is currently being built in the last city Charlotte). Not many people realize how influential the the Birds have been over the years, not necessarily on the field but off.

Its all good!

[soccerjunky]

trotter is a bit of a legend around here. He grew up in Hooks, TX and still has family here

[TQ2K]

Nice!

[GUINNESS]

Dawkins has easily become one of my defensive players. Leader on and off the field and actually makes intelligent statements when interviewed. I hope he remains an Eagle for a while. I think I may get Nicole a pink Dawkins jersey

As for Andrews, I think Nicole's son Drew is going to be psyched to hear about that since he used to play for the Razorbacks.