Has This Ever Happened Before?

In the long, long history of Philadelphia professional sports, have we ever seen a situation in which fans and the local media were this unwilling to criticize a guy?

"I have to admit, up front, that my heart is not in this one. But you know, after the Dallas game, that people are now going to be asking the question if Brian Dawkins is done. I don't think he is - but I honestly can't decide if my judgment is being clouded by the fact that this is a conversation I just don't want to be having. But here we are."

We've given guys a free pass before for various transgressions.  Iverson could still have been elected mayor even at his dogging-it-in-practice worst, for example.  But I've been racking my brain to come up with another time when Philly fans -- as a whole -- have been so loathe to complain about such an obvious slippage in on-field performance.

Maybe one of the old-timers could clue me in here.  Has this ever happened with another Philadelphia athlete before?  Didn't we even boo Rocky when he lost some zip on his punches?

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Sadly, if Dawk can't get this turned around soon, I'm not sure I see the restraint lasting.  It starts with the questions uttered in hushed, funereal tones, but once people see that you actually can criticize the heart and soul of the franchise for the last decade without facing immediate societal ostracization, the more typical loud braying won't be far behind.  It's the nature of the discussion in the modern sports world.