Somewhere, Dan Leone is smiling.
The game-day worker who was fired after complaining profanely on Facebook about the Eagles’ decision to let safety Brian Dawkins leave via free agency likely will be heaping praise on the team today, now that the Eagles have retired Dawkins’ jersey number.
And so 20 will join seven other numbers that have been put on the shelf permanent, unless and until Peyton Manning signs with the team: 15 for Steve Van Buren, 40 for Tom Brookshier, 44 for Pete Retzlaff, 60 for Chuck Bednarik, 70 for Al Wistert, 92 for Reggie White, and 99 for Reggie Brown.
Fans surely wish the move would have come after Dawkins retired after playing his final years with the Eagles instead of the Broncos. It would be wise for the team to now find a way to get Dawkins involved with the players, so that some of his legendary passion will rub off on them when it’s time to play.