A Sad Day

The Eagles have released Brian Westbrook rather than pay him the $7+ million he's due this upcoming season. The move was not unexpected (though the possibility of a renegotiation was a possibility) and follows hard on the heels of the Chargers parting ways with LT.

What a sad day. Not too often does a local college standout become the best player - really the irreplaceable player  on several of the Eagles' NFC championship squads - on the hometown pro team.

The Eagletarian has a list of Westbrook's five greatest plays.

#1 is certainly the punt return vs. the Giants. Sometimes a single play saves a season and this was one of those instances. One of the best parts about this play is that it is a standard of the Eagles' pre-kickoff video highlight and ALWAYS got a roar from the crowd who both appreciated the play and its significance in the 2003 season. This was the season/game in which McNabb suffered through a mystery injury to his thumb which everyone denied but was obvious to all. Almost 2-4, Westbrook's TD made them 3-3. They lost only one more game the rest of the season.

Interestingly, the Westbrook almost game winning TD vs. the Bucaneers in 2006 isn't mentioned. With 33 seconds left, Westbrook took a short pass that he converted into a 52 yard score. Unfortunately, Matt Bryant hit a 62 yarder at the buzzer to win the game and overshadow Westbrook's accomplishment.

The primary missing game is last year's Cardinals-Eagles Thanksgiving night game. 4 days after McNabb got benched in Baltimore in a disastrous loss that left them at 5-5-1 and in complete QB turmoil, the Eagles returned home to play high scoring Arizona. Westbrook who had been hampered all year by a gimpy knee and ankle, clearly took pain killing/cortisone shots before the game and returned to his usual form. With McNabb back starting, Westbrook and the Eagles marched down the field on the opening drive and scored a TD on a Westbrook 5 yard run. Westbrook wound up with 4 touchdowns - 2 running, 2 receiving - and 110 yards rushing. Propelled by the win, the Eagles wound up squeaking into the playoffs and upsetting both the Vikings and Giants.

So not only did Brian Westbrook save two seasons with his electric play, he also saved the fate of Donovan McNabb two times.

He will be missed.