“That Green Bay game last season was a joke”…

Too true.

Although that game was Andy Reid’s fault. You can’t put a guy (J.R. Reed) who’d never returned a punt in a live game back there in that critical a juncture. They cut Mahe and Bloom, two poor punt returner options, before the season started and then refused to put Westbrook back there to at least fair catch the ball.

After that game I got genuine joy every time B-West went back to cover a punt. Remember the Seattle game — his return put them in position to win… until Feeley found Tatupu (again).

I cringe when he goes back to return a punt, but they were so awful last season someone needed to give them a boost.

I always said that they should have someone scout HBCUs ONLY for all postions but mainly for a return guy. I know there’s a kid out there that can return a damn kickoff or field a punt. That Green Bay game last season was a joke.

No question on Leon Washington. That’s why I put his name in there. He’s a nice runner (not in Westbrook’s league right now – who know’s down the road). Washington, though, is a lethal game changer on special teams.

Westbrook is the real deal – no question.

TBR:

I agree about Westbrook on special teams – but he’s too valuable to the team to use regularly back there. He has no kickoff returns over the past 4 years and only 19 punts (in 4 years). The risk of losing him back there is simply too great.

Also, I wouldn’t hold the decline in catches against LT. First off, 60 is an awful lot of catches. And, it is worth mentioning that the year before the ’100,’ LT had 79. Besides, guess who’s first two FULL seasons in the league happened right after that 100 season? Antonio Gates. Throw in the emergence of their large, over-sized receivers (Floyd, etc.) and a QB change — and the decline makes perfect sense.

I largely agree with you about Tomlinson’s longevity – but I can’t say definitely. It’s really amazing that he’s done what he’s done for so long. I can’t imagine another year or two like the last 7…it would be unprecedented in the history of the league.

In regards to that 100 catch season, his next best after that was 60 last season.

As far as Westbrook not being this or that, I just don’t buy into it.

Westbrook is special, but Marshall Faulk is the gold standard.

The comparisons to Barber and Holmes are valid, and barring injury I’d expect B-West to have a similar career (two to three more 1000+ yard seasons). But, Leon Washington? Really? That’s just the stats lying.

There is a reason he gets more ink than Brian Westbrook. He is a better football player. Everything Westbrook can do he can do – at least as well. Westbrook could not carry the load that LT does for the Chargers.

When you check the record books, you’ll be hard pressed to find a single RB who carried the rock for 300+ times for 7 consecutive seasons. It’s an amazing testament to his conditioning (and luck). Give that man his due.

However, there is little debate today about Westbrook being the best multi-purpose back the NFL since Marshall Faulk.

There could be a huge debate.

If all-purpose includes all the things I think it includes, Westbrook is not the top guy in the league. In fact, he’s really a dual purpose back. He simply is too valuable to be used extensively in the punt or kick return game. That means you have to compare Westbrook to other backs on the basis of running and receiving.

He measures up well – but you cannot be suggesting that his 2006 and 2007 seasons were the best AP seasons by backs in the league since Faulk.

Westbrook has had only 1 season among the Top 100 in All-Purpose Yards. It was last year. He finished 3rd in the league and 47th all-time. But, he was behind Jerrious Norwood. Now, I’d rather have Westbrook than Norwood this season – but Westbrook may be getting too much love from the home crowd.

There are all these dynamic pass-catching running backs with names like Tomlinson, Jackson, Barber (retired, but part of the conversation), Holmes (retired, but part of the conversation), and even little Leon Washington (right on Westbrook’s heels last year in APY).

Frankly, Westbrook doesn’t return kicks and has only returned 19 punts in the last four years. Westbrook really only has two years worth of full-time play at the position — and he doesn’t carry the true heavy load (300+ carries) at the position. The Eagles are smart to deploy him in the passing game. But consider that even in LT’s season when he caught 90 balls, he still had 300 carries. (BW was second in touches last year – tied with Clinton Portis. The difference in damage to the body from running vs. catching passes out the backfield is tremendous and makes a huge difference. BW would be wise to NEVER carry the ball 300 times. By comparison, LT has done that 7 times in 7 seasons.)

Westbrook, though, is as valuable a player as there is in the league precisely because of his versatility and suprising durability. He was 10th in carries and 3rd in rushing yards. That’s awesome – but I can’t put him on top of the all-purpose list. I can’t even put him on top of “The Little Guy with Great Hands who Runs for High Average” List. You can’t even put him atop the list of “Amazing 3rd Down Pass Catchers who also Run Really Well on First and Second Down.” He’s not just a role player. He’s the lead dog pulling the sled in Philly and he must be measured against the other Big Boys on the totality of his game. He’s not the best since Faulk.

As a Philly sports guy I say, very funny, but I think we’re going to hold off on that parade down Broad Street. It’s good to see our profound professional championship suffering is the butt of so many jokes.

P.S. If we’re counting an AFL championship then we have to throw in the two Calder cups the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms won. What? A black man can’t dig on ice hockey? Willie O’Ree, Grant Fuhr, Anson Carter, Donald Brashear, Jerome Iginla… sure, they may be Canadians, but where do you think all those runaway slaves were going?

Of course, I’m talking about the fact that THE PHILLY DROUGHT IS OVER!!!!

The Philadelphia Soul won the Arena bowl championship!!!!!

What? no celebration?