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The Eagles Lose Another Franchise Great

B-Dub Written by B-Dub, Tuesday February 23 2010
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This is getting old.  Last year the Eagles tried to low-ball Brian Dawkins, possibly the greatest Eagle ever, and lost him in free agency.  Now the team has released another one of the all-time greats, running back Brian Westbrook.

OK, I am not going to rip the Eagles here like I ripped them when Dawkins left.  That was strictly a situation where they showed what cheap, arrogant bastards they really are.  This situation is a little different in that it was obvious that Westbrook had lost a step last season.

I still think Westbrook could have helped the Eagles during the 2010 season, but the team decided otherwise.  It would be cynical to suggest that the main reason is that Westbrook is due $7.25 million next year and by releasing him the Eagles don't have to pay him.  Of course with this organization, you have to take that into consideration.  As a matter of fact, I'm sure it was one of the reasons that they released him.  As I said, he isn't the same player that he once was.  And he once was one of the best.

Westbrook finishes his Eagles career as the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage (9,785).  He also ranks 2nd in rushing yards (5,995) behind only Wilbert Montgomery and 3rd in receptions (426) behind only Harold Carmichael and Pete Retzlaff.  His 68 total touchdowns rank 3rd in team history behind Carmichael and Steve Van Buren.  He eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 20 times during his career (including playoffs), which is tied for 2nd most in Eagles' history.  And he holds the team's single season record for most yards from scrimmage in a season, when he led the entire NFL with 2,104 yards in 2007.  He also holds the team record for most receptions in a season, when he had 90 during that same magical 2007 season.

If all that isn't impressive enough, the 3rd round pick out of Division 1-AA Villanova ranks 3rd in the NFL since 2004 with 8,561 yards from scrimmage.  Only LaDanian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson had more.  He leads all NFL RBs in receptions (380), receiving yards (3,372) and receiving TDs (25) since 2004 as well.  In short, he has been the best player of the Andy Reid era.  Sorry Donovan, but it's true.  Stop pouting.

"Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is even a better person and leader," said head coach Andy Reid.  "In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen.  I had a conversation with Brian this morning to let him know.  We wanted to make this move now in order to maximize Brian's chances of landing with another NFL team."

Normally this is where I would rip Reid for being a big fat liar, but not here.  I actually think that Reid saw what I saw last season.  He saw that Westbrook wasn't hitting the hole as quickly as he once did.  He saw that Westbrook didn't have the same burst that he had in his prime.  He saw yet another running back whose skills deteriorated quickly in his 30s.  That happens all the time in the NFL.  Think about Shawn Alexander, Edgerrin James or the recently released LaDanian Tomlinson.  It's a fact of NFL life with running backs. 

Running backs take a pounding and their bodies don't last as long as most other NFL players.  Add to that the fact that Westbrook has had numerous knee and ankle injuries and surgeries and the end was coming up quickly for B-West.  It also didn't help that Westbrook suffered two concussions during the 2009 season.

Westbrook's departure leaves the Eagles with LeSean McCoy as the feature back.  McCoy rushed for 637 yards with four TDs in 16 games as a rookie in 2009.  He showed promise, but he certainly didn't prove that he's ready to carry a franchise.  I know Reid never runs the football, but somebody has to line up at running back.  The team will most likely resign restricted free agent fullback Leonard Weaver.  "You can't stop the Weave."  Seriously, without Dawkins and now Westbrook to cheer for, they have to resign Weaver so I can at least yell that at the games.  Otherwise it will be 60 minutes of "Run the Damn ball Andy."

I also think Westbrook's release signals the team's willingness to being a youth movement.  The organization will never call it a rebuilding year, because they covet their precious public relations image more than anything.  Sorry, they covet the truckloads of money they make more than anything else, but they are very conscious of their carefully sculpted image.  Guys like me see right through all the lies, but they do seem to have the national media fooled.  Anyway, I think this move will lead to another big move.

That move would be trading QB Donovan McNabb and turning the franchise over to QB Kevin Kolb.  They will have a 2nd year RB in McCoy, a 2nd year WR in Jeremy Maclin and a 3rd year star WR in DeSean Jackson.  If 2010 needs to be a down year while the young players learn to play together, so be it.  Nothing, I repeat nothing, can possibly be worse than the way the 2009 season ended.  I don't care if the team goes 2-14, as long as those two wins are over the hated Dallas Cowboys.  But that's a thought for another article.

This is about one of the greatest players to ever put on an Eagles jersey.  Brian Westbrook was a special player in his prime.  The unfortunate reality is that he is past that prime.  I had hoped that the team would keep him for at least one more year and have him share the carries with McCoy.  That isn't what happened.

I won't quote team president Joe Banner, because he is a complete dirtbag who is incapable of telling the truth.  He just saw Westbrook's salary and knew he wasn't worth it, even in an uncapped NFL.  Hey, maybe they are just cheap bastards.

I will leave you with this quote from Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie: "Brian Westbrook is one of the most electrifying players in the history of the franchise and is certainly one of the most popular.  He was personally one of my favorite players to watch each and every Sunday, and his playmaking abilities, leadership and values will be missed." 

For once I actually agree with something that someone in the Eagles front office said.  Good luck Brian Westbrook.  Just please don't sign with the Cowboys.  I don't think I could handle that.   


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