ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brian Dawkins doesn’t look like a 37-year-old who’s played safety in the NFL longer than just two other players.
Dawkins was one of the few bright spots in Denver’s loss to Oakland in its opener, posting a team-high nine tackles and delivering ferocious hits when he wasn’t disrupting Jason Campbell’s passes.
For that, Dawkins credits fresh legs and rejuvenated knees.
Critics said he was over the hill last year, but Dawkins said he had lost a step or two from injury, not age. He did physical therapy for his knees in the offseason after straining the medial collateral ligament in each one last year.
He also credits new coach John Fox’s keep-’em-fresh philosophy, which is in stark contrast to former coach Josh McDaniels’ work-’em-hard style.
