Free agent SS Brian Dawkins has announced his retirement from the NFL.

Free agent SS Brian Dawkins says his neck injury is 100 percent recovered, and the numbness is gone from his fingers. Dawkins describes his late-season injury as a pinched nerve that simply needed recovery time. The 38-year-old remains undecided about playing in 2012. After Mike Adams signed in Denver, Dawkins may not be welcomed back.

Free agent SS Brian Dawkins is expected to either retire or re-sign with the Broncos. If Dawkins (neck) receives medical clearance to play, he is not expected to peddle his wares on the open market. The odds are high Dawkins has played his final down.

The Denver Post confirms that SS Brian Dawkins' contract has expired and he is a free agent. The NFLPA database previously listed Dawkins as being under contract for $6 million in 2012, but recently updated and does not have him signed as all. Dawkins suffered a career-threatening neck injury late in the 2011 season. Now 38 years old, we suspect Dawkins has played his last snap in the NFL.

The NFLPA database does not list Broncos SS Brian Dawkins as being under contract for 2012. Dawkins' old contract listed him with a 2012 base salary of $6 million, but he appears to be an unrestricted free agent after the Broncos did some kind of tinkering with the deal, either last offseason or during the year. Dawkins has a career-threatening neck injury and may be forced into retirement anyway.

Brian Dawkins is still experiencing numbness and weakness associated with his late-season neck injury. Dawkins won't make a decision on his football career until after the Super Bowl. The 38-year-old suggested that the only way he would play another season is if the Broncos want him back.

Despite missing the playoffs with a neck injury, Broncos SS Brian Dawkins plans to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl. Contact is extremely limited in the meaningless exhibition game, so Dawkins doesn't have to be fearful of an aggravation. It is, however, an indication that Dawkins has been medically cleared for the offseason. Due a $6 million salary entering his age-39 campaign, it may be Dawkins' last opportunity to don a Broncos helmet. Or any other team's, for that matter.

It would be "surprising" if Brian Dawkins (neck) didn't retire, according to the Denver Post.

NFL Network's Jeff Darlington reports that Broncos SS Brian Dawkins' neck injury is "career threatening." "I continue to hear from my sources that this injury is career threatening and there is very little expectation that he will be able to return if the Broncos do indeed advance," Darlington reported on Around the League Friday. Dawkins may be headed for injured reserve shortly. David Bruton and rookie Quinton Carter will be the Broncos' safeties throughout the playoffs.

Broncos SS Brian Dawkins (neck) has been ruled out for Week 18. Dawkins never had a realistic shot to play in the Wild Card round, and there still is no timetable for him to return. The Broncos will start special teamer David Bruton at free safety and rookie Quinton Carter at strong safety Sunday.