There are two problems with the Broncos’ signing of Brian Dawkins: He’s going to be 36 in October, and he doesn’t have a twin.
Other than that, signing Dawkins was all good. Even in the twilight of a possible Hall of Fame career, he’s a better alternative than anything the Broncos had at safety last season.
In addition to hard-nosed play, Dawkins brings an intangible that’s in short supply at Dove Valley: leadership. He’ll be a positive factor in the locker room, a voice that younger players will listen to.
Trouble is, he plays in the secondary. So does Champ Bailey, the Broncos’ other resident Hall of Fame candidate. In a perfect world, the leader of the Broncos’ defense would be a member of the front seven, most likely an inside linebacker who’s around the ball more often than a lineman or defensive back.
Al Wilson was that guy for years and, frankly, he never has been replaced. The Broncos in recent years have had a patchwork defensive lineup filled with players who had barely played together. That has to stop.
Maybe they’ll find their leader in the draft. Or maybe he’s out there in free agency. But they need to find him. Hopefully he’s chewing glass and breathing fire because the Broncos’ defense could use a fresh dose of nasty attitude.
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He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
