CrazyCowboy
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ZQNERS: This concerns me......Westbrook upset and going out for those little screens/swing passes which we seem to not know how to cover?
Thoughts?
:bang2:
Pro Bowl vote has Eagles stunned
Brian Westbrook's omission detracts from a great honor for Brian Dawkins, Shawn Andrews and Lito Sheppard.
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
If Andy Reid was right, the Pro Bowl voters missed on a slam dunk yesterday.
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was not among the players chosen to represent the NFC in the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and the three Eagles who will represent the team were disappointed by the decision.
Safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Lito Sheppard, and offensive guard Shawn Andrews expressed disbelief over Westbrook's omission. Dawkins, who will make his sixth Pro Bowl appearance, was the most outspoken.
"When I heard the announcement and he didn't make it, that was a huge shock to me," Dawkins said. "Because knowing what this cat means to this team and this offense... . Rushing yards may not be up there with some of those other guys, but I'll tell you what, I'll take this cat over those guys any day. He does so many things for this team, and he causes so many matchup problems for the opposing team."
Westbrook was chosen as a first alternate.
San Francisco's Frank Gore, the New York Giants' Tiki Barber, and St. Louis' Steven Jackson were chosen as the NFC's running backs. All three have more rushing yards and more yards from scrimmage than Westbrook, but the Eagles' top runner is averaging more yards per carry and more yards per rush than them. Westbrook, with 11 touchdowns, is second among NFC running backs in that category, after Dallas' Marion Barber (15).
Reid, of course, had said Monday that he thought Westbrook's Pro Bowl selection should be "a slam dunk."
"I think if he's not the best running back in the league, he's definitely one of the best," the Eagles coach said. "This guy can do anything."
Except, apparently, make the Pro Bowl roster. The only year Westbrook went to Hawaii was 2004, when he was chosen as a first alternate and added after another player was injured.
The Pro Bowl voting is by players, coaches and fans.
Despite the disappointment over Westbrook, Dawkins was elated to be going to Hawaii again. Both he and Andrews were named starters. Sheppard will be a reserve.
With six Pro Bowls, Dawkins is tied for third with Hall of Fame end Pete Pihos for the most in team history. Only Chuck Bednarik (eight) and Reggie White (seven) have played in more.
Dawkins, 33, said going to the Pro Bowl never gets old. "It never will and it shouldn't," he said. "When you get invited or voted in, that means your teammates and the people you play against respect you," Dawkins said.
The Eagles safety also was voted the NFC defensive player of the week yesterday after forcing two fumbles and coming up with an interception Sunday in the win over the Giants.
"It's huge, and I am definitely excited about the direction we are heading in," Dawkins said. "I believe we are playing our best football at the right time. With me going to the Pro Bowl and having all these accolades, that means I am doing things to help this team win. That is what it is all about."
Sheppard, 25, will make his second Pro Bowl appearance in three seasons. Despite missing three games and most of the season opener because of a sprained ankle, the fifth-year cornerback is tied for second in the NFC with five interceptions, matching his career high from 2004, when he last went to the Pro Bowl.
Sheppard made game-saving interceptions against Dallas and Carolina this season, and he hopes that some day he will have as many Pro Bowls on his resumé as Dawkins. Both are from Raines High in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I definitely feel like I'm one of the top corners in the league, and I don't see why I can't continue to make it as long as I'm healthy," Sheppard said.
This will be the first Pro Bowl for Andrews, the Eagles' No. 1 draft choice in 2004. Andrews said he believes that his substantial weight loss this season has made him a better player.
"I know I have made some big strides from last year," he said. "I lost the weight and I was able to prevail on a lot of plays, whereas... last year I would be out of breath. I think I was more of a mauler this year."
Andrews, who will turn 24 on Christmas, said keeping the weight off hasn't been as difficult as he anticipated.
"I just took the initiative," he said. "I was tired of being extra huge and being uncomfortable when I walked to the store. I was tired of sweating when it was 20 below... and I don't want to die because I ate too many cheeseburgers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
M O R E N E W S F R O M
• Sports
• Jacksonville Metro
• Brian Dawkins
• NFL Football
• Brian Westbrook
• Lito Sheppard
• New York Giants
• NFL Players
• Shawn Andrews
• Discuss Shawn Andrews
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com
Thoughts?
:bang2:
Pro Bowl vote has Eagles stunned
Brian Westbrook's omission detracts from a great honor for Brian Dawkins, Shawn Andrews and Lito Sheppard.
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
If Andy Reid was right, the Pro Bowl voters missed on a slam dunk yesterday.
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was not among the players chosen to represent the NFC in the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and the three Eagles who will represent the team were disappointed by the decision.
Safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Lito Sheppard, and offensive guard Shawn Andrews expressed disbelief over Westbrook's omission. Dawkins, who will make his sixth Pro Bowl appearance, was the most outspoken.
"When I heard the announcement and he didn't make it, that was a huge shock to me," Dawkins said. "Because knowing what this cat means to this team and this offense... . Rushing yards may not be up there with some of those other guys, but I'll tell you what, I'll take this cat over those guys any day. He does so many things for this team, and he causes so many matchup problems for the opposing team."
Westbrook was chosen as a first alternate.
San Francisco's Frank Gore, the New York Giants' Tiki Barber, and St. Louis' Steven Jackson were chosen as the NFC's running backs. All three have more rushing yards and more yards from scrimmage than Westbrook, but the Eagles' top runner is averaging more yards per carry and more yards per rush than them. Westbrook, with 11 touchdowns, is second among NFC running backs in that category, after Dallas' Marion Barber (15).
Reid, of course, had said Monday that he thought Westbrook's Pro Bowl selection should be "a slam dunk."
"I think if he's not the best running back in the league, he's definitely one of the best," the Eagles coach said. "This guy can do anything."
Except, apparently, make the Pro Bowl roster. The only year Westbrook went to Hawaii was 2004, when he was chosen as a first alternate and added after another player was injured.
The Pro Bowl voting is by players, coaches and fans.
Despite the disappointment over Westbrook, Dawkins was elated to be going to Hawaii again. Both he and Andrews were named starters. Sheppard will be a reserve.
With six Pro Bowls, Dawkins is tied for third with Hall of Fame end Pete Pihos for the most in team history. Only Chuck Bednarik (eight) and Reggie White (seven) have played in more.
Dawkins, 33, said going to the Pro Bowl never gets old. "It never will and it shouldn't," he said. "When you get invited or voted in, that means your teammates and the people you play against respect you," Dawkins said.
The Eagles safety also was voted the NFC defensive player of the week yesterday after forcing two fumbles and coming up with an interception Sunday in the win over the Giants.
"It's huge, and I am definitely excited about the direction we are heading in," Dawkins said. "I believe we are playing our best football at the right time. With me going to the Pro Bowl and having all these accolades, that means I am doing things to help this team win. That is what it is all about."
Sheppard, 25, will make his second Pro Bowl appearance in three seasons. Despite missing three games and most of the season opener because of a sprained ankle, the fifth-year cornerback is tied for second in the NFC with five interceptions, matching his career high from 2004, when he last went to the Pro Bowl.
Sheppard made game-saving interceptions against Dallas and Carolina this season, and he hopes that some day he will have as many Pro Bowls on his resumé as Dawkins. Both are from Raines High in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I definitely feel like I'm one of the top corners in the league, and I don't see why I can't continue to make it as long as I'm healthy," Sheppard said.
This will be the first Pro Bowl for Andrews, the Eagles' No. 1 draft choice in 2004. Andrews said he believes that his substantial weight loss this season has made him a better player.
"I know I have made some big strides from last year," he said. "I lost the weight and I was able to prevail on a lot of plays, whereas... last year I would be out of breath. I think I was more of a mauler this year."
Andrews, who will turn 24 on Christmas, said keeping the weight off hasn't been as difficult as he anticipated.
"I just took the initiative," he said. "I was tired of being extra huge and being uncomfortable when I walked to the store. I was tired of sweating when it was 20 below... and I don't want to die because I ate too many cheeseburgers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.
M O R E N E W S F R O M
• Sports
• Jacksonville Metro
• Brian Dawkins
• NFL Football
• Brian Westbrook
• Lito Sheppard
• New York Giants
• NFL Players
• Shawn Andrews
• Discuss Shawn Andrews
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com
