The truth often hurts. Normally, it’s not what is said but who says it or how it’s said. A male companion can't dare tell the female in his life that she looks fat in an outfit. However, the same female’s BFF can tell her that she looks like a float in a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade when she wears her swim suit and they will proceed to the nearest nail salon for a day of pampering.
This leads us to the recent release of 2 time Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook. The move wasn’t exactly Thomas Beatie, the first transgendered man to give birth, shocking. He was due to make a salary of $7.25 million next season which is well beyond what a part time player would command on the open market. The team would not confirm or deny that they gave Westbrook the option to take a pay cut and return to the team with a decreased role. One would have to assume that the pay cut would have been drastic and Westbrook would be better served taking his chances on the open market.
Westbrook has also battled injuries much of his career. He never played 16 games because of a variety of injuries to his knees, ankles, ribs and triceps. He spent much of last season on the sidelines. Westbrook suffered a concussion Oct. 26 against Washington. He sat out three games and returned against San Diego, but suffered a second concussion. He returned for the final two games of the regular season and then had such a lackluster performance in the playoff game against the Cowboys (a 27 yard catch on a screen pass) that I thought he got hired as the guy that carried the extra slack for Andy Reid’s communication headset. He finished the season with 61 carries for 275 yards rushing with one touchdown and 25 catches for 181 yards and one score.
During his prime, Westbrook was a match up nightmare for defensive coordinators and a fan favorite because of his blunt comments, small stature, and big time plays. Hell, my girlfriend even owns his jersey. I'm pretty sure that she cheats on me with him mentally every Sunday. He had Marshall Faulk type ability. His unique skill set allowed him to stay on the field for all three downs which is rare for most running backs. He was an underrated blocker, phenomenal inside runner, and could often be found split out wide as a receiver. He has rushed for 5,995 yards in eight seasons with the Eagles, and caught 426 passes for 3,790 yards. He scored 68 touchdowns rushing, receiving and on punt returns.
Westbrook’s bridle background was the primary reason that the team spent a high second pick on LeSean "Shady" McCoy. The team must have had Ms. Cleo and Dionne Warwick in its draft room because Westbrook missed much of training camp recovering from offseason surgery on his knee right and ankle. McCoy capitalized on his opportunity for immediate playing time and had an excellent rookie season accounting for 637 yards on 155 carries. Recently, there have been reports that Westbrook's left knee was so damaged he would have to consider retirement which could in the end make his dismissal from the Eagles a mute point.
It hurts to admit it, but the Eagles way of doing business works. The franchise has managed to remain competitive over the last decade. It is one of the NFL's flagship organizations which is evident when you look around at the coaches and player personnel professionals that now have prominent roles at other organizations after starting out with the Eagles. They have shaken their player personnel crystal ball over the years and been dead on which is hard to admit at times because of the team’s management lack of a bed side manner. For instance, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor left as free agents which allowed Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard to become team leaders and Pro Bowlers respectively. Vincent was forced to move to safety while Taylor battled injuries and was soon out of the league all together. Jeremiah Trotter admittedly wanted Ray Lewis money and got it. His pay day just came from division rival Washington and not Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Trotter would tear his ACL, get cut, and later return to the Eagles nest. Duce Staley took his hard running style to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He proved the Eagles wrong for half a season before his body gave up on him. Tra Thomas left the Eagles this past offseason and rode the bench for the Jacksonville Jaguars while Jon Runyan was a late season signing by the San Diego Chargers.
All this is to say that the Eagles have been right more often than not. They have signed big time free agents such as Terrell Owens, Jevon Kearse, Troy Vincent, Jon Runyan, and Asante Samuel and resigned younger players which allow its fan base to root and bond with players longer than most cities. Most recently, the team has corrected some of its short comings by drafting skill players in the early rounds (Jackson, McCoy, McCLain), giving young players prominent roles, and trading high draft picks to fill voids (Jason Peter). However, winning the Super Bowl would allow their fan base to enjoy these great franchise characteristics instead of feeling like they are being sucker punched when players like Westbrook and Brian Dawkins were not retained.
Sports pose a tricky relationship dynamic. Teams want to win, sustain a winning tradition, and make money while fans pay for a form of entertainment that is not predetermined like a James Cameron Sci-Fi adventure. Because of the human element that is involved, fans get attached to players and often view look at management, no matter what philosophy or moves that it makes, as an obstacle for success. Thus it’s nothing that your favorite team’s management can say to make things better or for them to be liked. It all comes down to winning and capturing a championship ring. With that ring everything that your team says or does will look promising. Sort of like when your female companion with huge boobs or a large butt (whatever turns you on more) asks you how she looks in her bathing suit. Some accessories make everything look a little better.
