The most irreplaceable Eagles player?
McNabb? Westbrook? Who?
The most irreplaceable Eagles player?
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
This idea comes from Matt Mosley's NFC East blog at ESPN.com, by way of Football Outsiders. Anyway, they did a thing where they picked the 10 most irreplaceable players in the NFL. Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning was No. 1, and Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware was No. 2.
There were no Eagles on the list.
I don't get that.
Is there not enough evidence out there about the importance of Brian Westbrook to this team? As he spends June nursing whatever the hell ails him this time, and it's always something, how is it possible that someone cannot recognize just how vital Westbrook is to the Eagles' success?
Just look at last year. In the games he was functional -- not great, but just decent -- the Eagles were an offensive machine. In the games when he was either out or obviously hobbled -- Chicago and Baltimore come to mind immediately, but there were others -- they were only an imitation of themselves, and a poor one at that. And while there was near-unanimous applause for the drafting of Shady McCoy as Westbrook's understudy, he hasn't yet seen the field. We really don't know.
Hell, I could put Donovan McNabb on the list, too. He tanked last year and they tanked. He was re-born and they were re-born. Some of this obviously coincided with Westbrook's health, which is why I think he is the key, but McNabb seems reasonably essential to this mix right now, too. Even if you like Kevin Kolb, he has barely played.
The Eagles have worked to make these two guys less irreplaceable, and maybe they have. But we really don't know. And until we do, it is hard to see that list as anything but flawed, and incomplete.
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"Softybrook" Who's that? Oh I see what you did there. You substituted "softy" for "west" because those two words sound very similiar. Wait...what? I think that's actually worse than "McChoke." Well done.— Backisnthei- 5-- wBrook was badly injured during those games and 2 out of those 3 games were against some of the game's premier run stopping D's. Not to mention that the Eagles run blocking was aweful with no Shawn Andrews, and an injured Jon Runyan. Plus lets not forget that one of McNabb's TD passes and about 80 passing yards came from an unbelievabe, game sealing, well timed catch and run off of a 5-7 yard dumpoff that will live in Eagles infamy forever by a certian number 36. I'll give it to ya though, McNabb played well in the playoff's last year, just not well enough. BTW I'm still convinced as I was the moment I saw it that Donny's little phone gag in the Giants game was a bad omen. It was a classless move that no other QB in the league would even think about and a mental lapse by a mentally weak human being.— ItsOnLikeDK
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love Westbrook, but if he is the most irreplaceable player, that could be trouble 'cause who knows if he will ever be the player he used to be. I think the Eagles can win w/o him,(or I at least I hope they can).- DeMarcus Ware no. 2? A linebacker on a bad defense? There goes the credibility of this piece. B-West's best days are behind him but that idiot sisa-whatever fails to account for a line that couldn't open a crack of a hole. Stop disrespecting a player who has provided so much production and excitement. Oh, and Rich, you're reporting on other people's blogs? Talk about mailing it in.— steelydad
- F* all of you. This is MY team from MY town. I love them. I Support them. The opinions here are not of fans - because a fan shows his loyalty and support and doesn't jump off the ship when the water get rough. I can remember the days of Rodney Peete and Doug Pederson. I remember Jaws. I remember Randall. There have been great Defenses - and lame plays (Kotite, anyone?). The mess left from Ray Rhodes was quickly washed away with a glass of pickle juice and a victory over Dallas. This team - under Reid - with stars - like McNabb and Westbrook (among many others) - has made Philadelphia VERY relevant as a "football town". I can't after my 37+ years still understand why Philadelphia "fans" (HA!) love to rip on their own. Please - stay the hell away from the team - PERIOD. You people will NEVER be satisfied. GO D-Mac! Go B-West! GO EAGLES!!!!— mebphila
- Westbrook is not to be overlooked. At any given play he can change a game. Too bad he's got a bad wheel. But with the latest playmakers they picked up expect to see less carries and less pressure. Come November/December he'll be there to bust a move . He's all that.— MJPD345
- Post my comments! You guys let 5isaqueen and lonewolf post useless slop all day long on these boards and I can't reply to it??— ItsOnLikeDK
- Mucho amor to BWest but 2 offseason leg surgeries (Knee and ankle) requires that he is adequately replaced in order for the Iggles to be successful. LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver have the ability to match Westbrook's impact. The question for McCoy is in the pass protection and potential to fumble at a critical juncture. Westbrook was superior in both aspects. Be careful what you wish for McNabb haters/Kolb lovers.— don julio
- Westbrook is "da bomb". Look at the Nova fballers, Westbrook, Howie Long etc— jakelbi
- there are no irreplaceable eagles including mcnabb. they are not a championship team with or without mcnabb or westbrook as history has proven. if they had a terrell davis type of running back then he would be on the list.— JACK V
i read this article too and was appalled at some of the players included on that list.— MPatt24
