Dawkins a fixture

Brian Dawkins has outlasted them all in Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson has taken his championship chase to Denver, and Mike Lieberthal’s shaky arm and declining RBI total are part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup.

That leaves one remaining member of Philadelphia’s all-decade team: Dawkins.

The departure of Lieberthal, who was a member of the Phillies since 1994, and Iverson, the NBA’s first overall draft pick in 1996, leaves Dawkins as the longest-tenured athlete in any of the four major sports in the city. Before Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb revitalized the Eagles, Dawkins was already the heart and soul of the defense.

The 33-year-old Dawkins was drafted by the Eagles in 1996, making him one of the few Philly athletes to play for the same team for more than 10 seasons. After Dawkins, there is teammate William Thomas (1998), then McNabb, David Akers and Flyers star Simon Gagne, all drafted in 1999.

Unlike Iverson, traded this week to Denver, Dawkins will likely end his career in Philadelphia. The standout safety is still at the top of his game – he was named NFC player of the week and to his sixth Pro Bowl this week. He also agreed to a two-year extension through the 2008 season that could carry him to the end of his career.

“Everybody can’t play in Philadelphia,” Dawkins said. “You have to have tough skin. You have to be able to deal with criticism. You have to be able to push through and ignore things, ignore booing because you’re going to get booed. I don’t care who you are.”

Even in hardened Philly, where boos are a part of the city’s sounds, Dawkins has mostly been spared the fans’ wrath. Fierce, energetic, deeply religious and with a knack of making clutch plays, he’s quietly emerged as one of the more popular Eagles.

“People in grocery stores or wherever, they don’t hold back their opinions,” Dawkins said. “Those are the things you have to deal with as a pro athlete in Philadelphia. Some people understand that, some people don’t, but I understand that.”

Bucs’ Williams out

Tampa Bay running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams won’t play against Cleveland because of a foot injury.

Williams, who has rushed for 798 yards and one touchdown, was injured during a loss to Chicago last Sunday.

New deal for Viking

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, recently chosen to play in his second Pro Bowl, agreed to a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams, a first-round pick in 2003, has five sacks this year.