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.
Comments (99)
I see your point about Westy Ritch, but one could dispute Mcnabb for the fact that twice he was replaced and they made the playoffs once w/Jeff Garcia and the other w/A.J Feely. Just a thought but but it does seem if the QB has a good feel for the playbook they can plug someone in just like the old 9er's used too with Montana, Young, and even Garcia.— hatchet- With respect to Wilbert, Brian Westbrook is the second greatest RB in Eagles history. He is a great player. I can't even imagine how much Jints players, coaches and fans must fear him.— Stephen_Niksa
Comment removed.- Yes Rich, incredibly, most teams are in big trouble without a healthy starting QB and starting HB. How do you like the Colts chances without Mannning and Addai; or the Giants hopes without the younger Manning and Jacobs? Matt Mosely should have considered that when he wrote his blog, and you should have given some thought when you wrote this one. Both of you get the Sarge Matthews ' Captain Obvious' award for the day. I can't wait until training camp when there will be actual news to report.— drbob1
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- FB (Any one of them)— mick314
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- Westbrook has been and is the "Iggles", sisa, move to N.Y. maybe the fans up there will appreciate you!!!— FireChief
- Westbrook is irreplaceable until his "replacement" PROVES he can do what Westbrook has accomplished.— komplex2005
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- BWest is the only guy the defensive co-ordinators game plan against....nothing else we have scares anyone....hopefully this year will be differetn— nuggett
- Westbrook hasn't been "irreplaceable" for the past couple of seasons. People have a tendancy to remember what was - not what is.— Bobphxville
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- I'm hoping that, with the emergence of DJax and the addition of more weapons on the offense, that really no one is all that irreplaceable. That said, if McNabb goes down, we're screwed. Even more so than Westbrook, in my opinion.— FKD215
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- This was good for a lunchtime nap. Thanks.— rwright611
- no one on the eagles roster is irreplaceable .. garcia proved that he could take a team into the playoffs without no. 5. westbrook is a great back but he's not the same player he was two years ago. while the offense dwindled while he was out, the eagles never had a decent backup until now. with that said, i think it's easier to replace a westbrook than a mcnabb. the field general is always more valued than the legion's greatest weapon!— PhilliGuy
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- hey 5isa,no back can run through holes that arent there. Westy has done an outstanding job bouncing outside throughout his career due to a line that has not provided the run support. Notice the O line changes this offseason and wise up. You clearly are not a Bird's fan due to your total lack of football knowledge.— jalinsgs
- In addition to The Bears and Ravens games, remember the Skins game in week 5. Westbrook scored the first TD, and left the game. Eagles were up 14-0 and lost 23-17. Softybrook? I mean, that's not even creative...— p1stol
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- 5isaleaderandaKing, how much worse would McNabb passing stats be without Westbrook there for all of those years to convert his 3 yard screen pass into a big gain. McNabb is a great QB, but without Westbrook, this offense was horrendous.— OMIGODEAGLES
- nuggett, Deshawn Jackson scared the hell out of D-coordinators last year.— mikegdj
- A football team is just that, a team. The QB can't do his job without the offensive line. The running back needs room to run. In the Eagles case, the lack of WR allowed defenses to key on Westbrook. But the real point is that EVERYONE IS REPLACEABLE. Put the egos away.— steve53
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- HEY SISSYKING,SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE & STICK TO THE COWBOYS BLOGS...YA TOOL!! GO BIRDS :-) !!!!!— SAL@KENSINGTON
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hey chief, wasnt tearing down legendary baseball records by steroid soaked cheaters ... uhm, THRILLING ??— daveH- Comment removed.
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- You're right 5isaleaderandaKing, anybody could have done Westbrook's job carrying McNabb and accounting for most of the offense like he did in 2006, when his Holiness was injured, again. The same guy who accounted for 65 percent of the Eagles offense last season in an off year. McNabb doesn't have his numbers without Westbrook. Guy won them how many games on big runs and punt returns in the 4th quarter hwile Donovan was playing trying to win the games in the 2nd OT.— OMIGODEAGLES
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- Interesting, but i think that clearly the most irreplaceble eagle for the entire reid tenure has been Jim Johnson...— K,M
- 5isaleaderofpickingjockstrapsupafterpractice......— Voytas
- 5isaleaderofpickingjockstrapsupafterpractice......Man, even Dierte is slamming you. Go back to KOP, wash my car window before I go to the mall and maybe I'll give you two cents if you remain quiet.— Voytas
- this means nothing, just some garbage for the seagulls to eat— Onlineps2beast
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- Hey 5isa, if you keep using the Softybrook line it may catch on and you can take credit for it...That would make your year!!! Unfortunately, it pains me to say but everyone on this eagles roster is replacible it hurts to say this because it is the general philosophy of this current ownership and how they tret their players. There is no Reggie White or any other eagles great who is so dominant that not having them will set the franchise back years. However, the team does not have the replacement for key players and this will need to be addressed very soon. I firmly believe Kolb is a stiff and I have no idea about McCoy and what he can do for 16 weeks against NFL caliber players.— rvb2321
- When does camp start? This mindless drivel is getting so old.— craig123
- I am eager to see how the Birds do this year. At least at the Linc you can tailgate. The new rule they passed in DC is absurd..............no tailgating.............. http://www.legal-mark.com— bleach
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- McNabb is a Hall-of-Famer on top of his game with many years left, far more than W36.— Super5
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- "top three eagles rbs:1-brian westbrook 2-wilbert montgomery 3-timmy brown..... The number 1 Eagles RB ever, by a WIDE MARGIN, is Steve Van Buren.— legatus
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- 5isalumpandaKlown....McCash is not irreplacable. Kubb is on the bench waiting for his chance. B-West, if not playing is THE MOST irreplacable Eagle becasue without him, the Eagles offense is stone cold FLAT! Just like your head.......
- Is it me or does 5isalameandakrimpet repeat the same darn things she says time after time after time??? A name change does not a new brain make.
- lastandaqueen is not a bright individual. Eagle nation come together!!!! this is an idiotic arguement.— Jack Hammer
- #20— ox
- Just watched T.O. get called a bunch of BAD things by a teammate! It was his female teammate on a show called "Superstars" on Thursday night. INCREDIBLE! The segment was aired at 4PM today on NFL Live on ESPN. This female (Forgot her name already) CHEWED him OUT! He got tangled up in cargo netting when it was part of an obstacle course, putting him and his partner way, way behind in time, and the girl just went ballistic with her words, if not her manner! I LOVED it! After passing close by and questioning his athletecism and cutting him in half with her demeanor, he just looked all non-plussed and terribly confused while staring after her!Anybody that would LOVE to see that moron get a little payback right to his face MUST see this!— TBear
- Is it just me, or is SissyKing getting dumber every day? I tend to ignore just about anything she writes. What a miserable life to have nothing better to do than come back to the same blog every 30 minutes to read if someone takes offense to her moronic "Softybrook" reference. Go ahead SissyKing, write something brilliant about me. Sorry if I don't respond, but I have better things to do with my time than come back and read your idiotic posts. Keep checking though --every 30 minutes or so, just like a well-trained chimp (or is it chump?).— CaptMorgan
- Westbrook is one of my favorite Eagles, but runningbacks are a dime a dozen.— mifunk
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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- i see where most 'experts' are picking new england. i just bet they won't make the playoffs. las vagas giving 5/l they are the favorites. after watching pro ball a lot of years one thing is certain. no one comes back after being out one year the next year. bet on it.— JACK V
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- Andy is busy replacing cheeseburgers on his plate.— Huge
- Yes 5isaleader, some day McCoy will replace Westbrook, but not today, not this year. I'm a 5 guy, and know that he is better with 36 in the backfield with him. You're just a jive hater who likes to see his own B.S. in print!— qwerty1234
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- It is clearly McNabb. Westbrook wasn't even a factor in the playoffs except for one play. This isn't 2006, Westbrook is shades of himself. It is how it is when RB hit thirty. Also, over the past 2 seasons look at the games McNabb has missed. New England=loss Seattle=loss and this yr for the half against Baltimore we took out Don, and the team fell apart. Most of you hate to admit it, but the team can function without west (essentialy proven in the playoffs) Without Don, we are in trouble. Feeley threw 7 picks in the two games he started last yr, and Kolb managed to throw 4 picks this yr in limited action. Buckhalter was the most underused player on the team last year, and hopefully Shady can offer some skills this year. The awnser is McNabb.— Flip37
- No disrespect to Westbrook, but the most difficult player to replace is McNabb. Yeah, I know others have stepped in for him and performed well. But if the Eagles don't have McNabb as their starter, forget about the playoffs.— p-diddy
- The Best player, is everyone kidding. The eagles of the past 10 years have been the greatest eagles of all time. I am sure other people have some names of the past, but they stuck...no super bowl— Deschak
- 5isaleader-his run blocking up front has always been poor; the line is designed to protect number 5. You know that. I share your dream of a road-paving back that is always good for a yard or two. Nobody will be able to replace Westy-he does just about everything and is sneaky as hell getting past the line of scrimmage after chip-blocking.— CVN65
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- A healthy Westbrook is irreplacable, unfortunately he has not been healthy for a full season. Right now, Jackson is the "ultimate weapon" on this team. The main reason Westbrook couldn't pick up third and short was because "bad back" Tre and "no knees" Runyon couldn't move those D-linemen. That's why they've been replaced and the Eagles have bought in some fresh bulldozers and a fullback. Third and short won't be a problem this season for either West or Shady Mac.— dapmman
- No one is irreplaceable in football. You just have to hope that the young guys are ready to step up.— dansdigs
- 5isa...Do you work dude? is your job hating on b-west? I love McNabb too, but I dot understand ur hatred of the other players...
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- Not even a doubt...it's McNabb. They won late last year because of him. Westbrook was so hurt he was basically falling into the line of scrimmage so it's obvious they can win without him easier than without McNabb.— brian2706
- He is irreplacable in the way Reid runs the team. He doesn't trust the other running backs that has been here and left. I thought he ran him into the ground last year. He could have extended his career a number of times by inserting Buck or trading for another when the opportunity became available but did not. We had depth at one time before West was the starter. We need the Steeler's mentality of "Who's Next".— jazzyg50
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- All of you Mcnabb and Westy bashers are sickening, these guys are our team. Dawkins was a fixture that is irreplacable as well, no doubt he will be missed. When one of these guys leaves you will be whining in the other direction. Be a fan, not a coach huh!!!!— fasteddie35
- 5isaking: Feeley and Detmer combined to go 5-1 after McNabb went down in 2002. In 2006 Jeff Garcia had a 95.8 QB rating and led them to the NFC East Division title and a playoff victory. McNabb's career QB rating is 85.9. In 12 playoff games he has thrown 12 picks and has an 80.1 rating in the playoffs. Sure he's a decent QB, but he's not a king as your faulty logic would suggest. Now stop hating on Westbrook, D-bag— stigs
- Tom Brady was replaced last year. What's missing here is the criteria by which these players were selected (conveniently - otherwise this is a non-story).— MXWest
- McNabb is the only player on the team we can't lose. There is no one behind him. Kolb is all hype and AJ hasn't gotten enough reps and has started to look like Favre with the inceptions he tosses. If 5 goes, the season goes with him.— dapmman
- The most irreplaceable Eagles player = the fan— BobDeschak
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