PHILADELPHIA — Brian Dawkins was given the opportunity to tear apart the Eagles Sunday in the same manner he flattened so many opposing wide receivers during his 13 seasons in Philadelphia.

He declined, refusing to talk about how the Eagles came up short in their offer to keep him in green for the remainder of his career.

"I'm not going to get into a hissing match," the seven-time Pro Bowl safety said by cell phone one day after signing a five-year, $17 million deal with the Denver Broncos that guarantees him at least $7.5 million.

Instead, Dawkins focused on his emotions as his twin infant daughters — Chonni and Cionni — played in the background.

"It hurts," Dawkins said when asked about his decision to leave the only NFL city he had called home before Saturday. "It still does hurt. That's a place that I very much felt a part of. I felt like a Philadelphian, so this is very hurtful. But I'm trying to move forward with the Broncos."

Dawkins said he talked to Eagles coach Andy Reid before signing with the Broncos, but he refused to elaborate. He said the things he'll miss most about the Eagles will be the relationships with his teammates and the fans.

"I built relationships with guys that had nothing to do with football," Dawkins said. "The guys there trusted me and believed in me and helped me through some situations that were tough.

"I also built something with the fans. They allowed me into their homes. They allowed me to have a good time with them at times — to party with them, to cry with them. It hurts me to know that I won't be spending my last days as an Eagle."

The big question for the Eagles now is how much Dawkins' departure will hurt their team in general and the defense in particular. If nothing changes between now and the team's September opener, the Eagles will have a Q-squared system — Quintin Mikell and Quintin Demps — starting at safety.

It remains to be seen if Demps can come close to filling the enormous shoes Dawkins left at the NovaCare Complex. There's also the question of leadership, especially given the possibility that free-agent tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan could be gone, too.

"I think they have a lot of talent and a lot of character guys," Dawkins said. "Those guys know how to win. They're young on defense, but I believe a lot of that youth grew up last season. They know what it takes to be a dominating defense. I do believe they will continue that."

The chemistry without Dawkins, however, figures to be different.

"That is a question," Dawkins said. "I don't have the answer to that. I believe Sheldon (Brown) will begin to step up and talk a lot more. I know he doesn't like to do that, but I think he will start to say more things in the locker room and on the field."

Brown, reached on his cell phone while driving in his native South Carolina, said he was surprised when he heard Dawkins had signed with Denver.

"I was shocked, but I saw (Jeremiah) Trotter leave, and I saw Ike (Reese) leave, and I thought they both still had a lot left in the tank," Brown said. "Shocked, yeah, but anything can happen in this league. Emmitt Smith had to leave Dallas and go to Arizona. Dawk made a decision on the business side. He did what was best for him and his family. I think he gave the Eagles a break on the last deal he signed."

Brown said he thinks the Eagles will miss Dawkins' playing ability more than his leadership.

"Everybody talked about him like he was on the decline, but I think that was a bunch of crap," Brown said. "He played at such a high level for so long that any kind of drop-off is still better than most other players. He set the bar so high by the way he played, and he's still one of the best players."

Brown said he doesn't plan to become any more vocal, but he doesn't think Dawkins' leadership qualities are irreplaceable.

"I think leadership is overrated," he said. "Your work ethic is your leadership. People didn't respect Dawk because he spoke well. They respected him for the way he worked in the off-season and the way he was always there for you as a teammate. Guys have to be mature enough and man enough to know this is their job.

"I think in the bigger picture, guys should say, 'If they can let Brian Dawkins go, what can they do to you?' That speaks volumes."

Brown said he was disappointed because he felt the Eagles became a top-notch secondary last season. The team finished first in the NFC and third in the NFL in passing yards allowed.

"I think we finished as one of the top secondaries, and now we're starting to break things up," Brown said.

Speaking of breaking up, that's what Dawkins did as he spoke about his allegiance to Philadelphia and the Eagles.

"I'm going to come and play with the Broncos and give them everything I have left," he said. "But there will always be a special place in my heart and mind for Philadelphia, and that won't be going anywhere. We had too much fun, too much success, and got through too many turbulent times for that to change. That will not leave my heart ever."