Les Bowen: Enough already about Dawkins, Eagles have to focus on beating Broncos

WHEN Donovan McNabb looks across the line of scrimmage Sunday, the Eagles quarterback said he'll see "another safety with a visor," not the former heart and soul of the Birds' defense.

For the fans, this is the most anticipated game of the season, no question, the return of Brian Dawkins to Philadelphia. There's also no question that the Eagles can't get sucked into that melodrama, and that avoiding it could be tricky.

"Our team understands that we're not playing Buck and Dawk, we're playing the Denver Broncos," Eagles coach Andy

Reid said yesterday, including former Birds running back Correll Buckhalter in the homecoming mix. "They know that they need to study the team, as opposed to studying those two players."

Of course, the Eagles know that, say, they're probably going to have a harder time keeping NFL sacks leader Elvis Dumervil (15) out of their backfield than Dawkins, and they'd better be studying defensive end Dumervil, but after Dawk's 13 seasons in Philadelphia and seven Pro Bowls, No. 20's ties to this locker room are strong and deep. Is not obssessing over him as easy as saying you can't afford to do it?

Eagles safety Quintin Mikell was saying yesterday he hopes Dawkins will be paying attention when the Denver offense is on the field - Mikell wants to show his former mentor how much he's learned.

"It's almost like when your big brother goes away to college and he comes back," Mikell said. "All those years when you were losing to him in basketball, you kind of show him, 'Look what I can do.' It's an opportunity to show what I've been able to learn from him, and show I can hold it down a little bit."

This was just before Mikell was asked whether it will be tough to block out the presence of Dawkins (and Buckhalter).

His answer?

"Heck no, man. Once we get on the field, all that goes out the window. The bottom line is whoever is across from you, they're going to try to kick your butt, and I'm going to try to kick their butt. I'm not really worried about all that stuff, once we get going."

So Mikell won't have any trouble blocking out Dawkins' presence - while he's trying to show Dawkins how much he's learned. Hmmm.