DAWKINS AND PRYCE CONCLUDE THEIR SEASONS

Former Tiger Brian Dawkins concluded a stellar postseason in which his Philadelphia Eagles made it all the way to the NFC Championship game before falling to Arizona on Sunday. Dawkins recorded 6 tackles in the game. In the previous playoff game against the defending champion NY Giants, he had 10 tackles. In the wild card game against Minnesota, he accounted for 6 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. During the regular season, Brian had 75 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and an interception. Dawkins will play in his seventh Pro Bowl on Feb. 8, 2009. He is a free agent and has not yet signed a contract to play with Philadelphia for the 2009 season.

Former Tiger Trevor Pryce also concluded the postseason when his Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Steelers in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Pryce accounted for two tackles in the game. In the previous playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, he had no tackles. In the wildcard game against the Miami Dolphins, he recorded 1 tackle and 1 sack. Trevor had 27 tackles and 4.5 sacks during the regular season. A two-time Super Bowl Champion (one with the Broncos and one with the Ravens) and four-time Pro Bowl selection, Pryce is under contract with the Ravens through the 2010 season.

FORMER TIGER NICK EASON IN SUPER BOWL 43

The NFL conference championship games are over and Super Bowl 43 will match the AFC champ Pittsburgh Steelers against the NFC champ Arizona Cardinals. The only former Tiger on the roster of either team is #93, DE Nick Eason of the Steelers. Eason, from Lyons, GA, played football and basketball for Toombs Co. High School (GA). He was a star in both sports, being named Georgia's 2A Basketball Player of the Year and lettering four years in football. Nick was recruited by Clemson to play defensive end.

After red-shirting his freshman year, he played DE at Clemson during the 1999-2000 seasons and was then moved to defensive tackle for the 2001-2002 seasons. For his career, Eason recorded 155 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Eason was named the team Defensive MVP in 2000 and was an all-ACC first team selection his senior year in 2002. During his Clemson career, he also spent a great deal of time involved in community service and was honored with a Top Six Award for four straight years, presented by the ACC to the top six student-athletes at each school recognizing them for their community service. Nick also holds the distinction of being the first athlete at Clemson to graduate in three years and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Upon completion of his career as a Tiger, Eason was then selected by the Denver Broncos in the 4th round of the 2003 NFL draft. Eason suffered an achilles injury (one that had bothered him greatly during his Sr. season at Clemson) during his first year and did not play. In 2004, he was waived by the Broncos and signed by the Cleveland Browns, appearing in one game. In 2005, Eason played in all 16 games for the Browns, recording 19 tackles and 2 sacks. In 2006, he started 3 games for the Browns and played in 13, recording 23 tackles. In 2007, he was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Steelers and played in all 16 games, making 14 tackles. Pittsburgh signed Eason to a 2 year contract in 2008 and he finished the regular season with 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Although I am a Tampa Bay Bucs fan and have Gaines Adams to pull for as a bonus, I always pull for the NFL teams that have former Tigers on their roster as long as they're not playing the Bucs. So, during this year's Super Bowl, I will be cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the hopes that Nick Eason will be added to the list of former Tigers with an NFL Super Bowl ring.