For 13 of his 16 NFL seasons, Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, Brian Dawkins was the man at safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.

His leadership, hard hitting, charisma and ability to snag interceptions from opposing quarterbacks were all hallmarks during Dawkins’ career.

Currently serving the role of Executive of Football Operations for Player Development with the Eagles, apparently, Dawkins still has IT!

“He still could line up today, man and be in the box and make some plays for us,” current Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod told me on Monday afternoon’s edition of Scoop B Radio.

“I mean you’ve seen clips of him, but the energy that he brings and his leadership qualities, those are the things that stand out to you. He’s a physical specimen.”

Indeed Dawkins was a premier safety. Weapon X recorded 778 tackles, 37 INTs, 26 quarterback sacks and 28 forced fumbles for the birds.

Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles free safety Rodney McLeod (23) during game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Steelers, 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

“He’s been a great tutor to have around this facility and obviously, a motivator too,” said McLeod.

“Just looking at him every day out on the sidelines, knowing that you have a legend right there watching you each and every day and you have this opportunity to showcase your abilities, but also pick his brain a little bit; it’s very helpful. And so, that’s my motivation man, having him around, one to be somewhere close to him and things that he’s done for this team. And so, I’m going to continue to grow, continue to pick his brain, but Brian Dawkins, man is a heck of a player and a heck of a man too!”

Dawkins retired as a nine time NFL Pro Bowler, four time NFL first teamer, member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team, and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 75th Anniversary Team.

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Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod will play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday against a New England Patriots team that Las Vegas has predicted the Eagles to be a 5.5 underdog against.

So how does one actually stop Tom Brady? “It’s knowing that he’s going to sort through, pick out, you know, your flaws and try to expose you,” Rodney McLeod told me on Scoop B Radio.

“And so, you know, we have to make sure we have all those things corrected that has worked against us. He’s a guy that looks at matchups, we got to obviously disrupt him and make him uncomfortable. I think that’s the biggest thing, make him uncomfortable early, kind of get him on his heels a little bit and be able to match up well in the back end.”

Ahead of Super Bowl LII, Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod checked in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson and Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: Fan Rag Sports

The Eagles secondary that features McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins also includes Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills and Patrick Robinson. They have the task of facing one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL.

An NFC division lifer in his sixth season in the NFL McLeod has never played against Brady and the Patriots in the regular season. 

However, McLeod believes that Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers’ game is comparable to Brady’s.

But why?

“A guy who can put the ball in places that not too many can, maybe only Tom Brady,” said McLeod.

“His experience in this league, his, you know, ability to have so much poise. Being in a situation where he’s never out of it either. He can be down fourteen and hop back into the game just like that. Knowledge of the game is excellent and he’s just an ultimate competitor man. And so, one person I have gone against, that I think I could compare him to would be Aaron Rodgers, in comparison to Tom Brady.”

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Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod hosted NFL Draft gifting suite in Philadelphia. Photo Credit: Transition Sports

While the NFL Draft was the key focus in Philadelphia last week, there were ample opportunities for folks to unwind through networking and more.

On Wednesday April 26, Kelly Drive’s In Riva Restaurant was the place to be as Transition Sports’ Don Povia, fashion stylist Jen Abrams and Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod hosted a VIP NFL Draft Happy Hour and Deck Party.

The private, outdoor happy hour and meet-up featured a VIP players lounge with fashion brands curated by athlete and celebrity stylist Jen Abrams, audio gear provided by Altec Lansing and more.

2017 NFL Draft Party Hosted by Rodney McLeod from Transition Sports & Entertainmen on Vimeo.

Philadephia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod and RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatting at In Riva’s gifting suite. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary Boomtown FM

Everybody and their momma and their momma’s momma were in attendance at the gifting suite including Philadelphia Eagles legend Donovan McNabb.

Other notables included:

Keith Bullock, DJ Yoda Nate Washington, Rodney McLeod, C.J. Smith, Aaron Grymes, Marcus Smith, Phaidra Knight, Chordale Booker, TV personality and chef Brian Duffy, Good Day Philadelphia’s Mike Jerrick and Alex Holley, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Anthony Cioffi.

Gifted clothing included streetwear from:  

Schuyler 4 showroom, Haupt, Alberto, Carl Gross, Icer brands, Brooklyn cloth, Mitchell and Ness, Stance socks, Taylord Blue, Frigo, Lids, Mental Ambition, MajorThreads.com, Orange cryotherapy, Umbel , Altec.

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