Posted: Monday, March 2, 2009, 1:14 PM | 42 comments |
 

Westbrook surgery; thoughts on Dawkins' departure
options
 

This Eagles blog is up and operating again after a February hiatus. Sorry for the lengthy departure, but refueling was necessary.

It was reported by the Inquirer during the Super Bowl that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook might need surgery to repair the left knee that kept him from being 100 percent for much of the 2008 season. The Eagles still haven't announced it, but Westbrook confirmed that he has indeed had surgery during an interview Sunday at Disney World with the Orlando Sentinel's Chris Harry.

"It's getting better all the time," Westbrook told Harry.

Perhaps, but with Correll Buckhalter off to Denver, the Eagles would still be wise to bring in a trusted veteran to join Westbrook in their backfield next season. Sorry, Lorenzo Booker is not that trusted veteran. Derrick Ward of the New York Giants would be.

As for Dawkins' departure to Denver, it's certainly understandable that so many fans are upset about it. Dawkins was a terrific player with an unmatched passion for the city, the fans and the game. But he certainly isn't the first beloved Eagles player to leave and he won't be the last.

Another leader and another fan favorite will emerge and it might even be Quintin Demps. You never know.

It's important to remember that the NFL is a business and the Eagles have always been pretty good about letting veteran players go at just the right time.

Remember Hugh Douglas? Remember Troy Vincent? Remember Bobby Taylor? Remember Duce Staley?  Remember Jevon Kearse?

Did any of those 30-something players go on to do great things after leaving the Eagles?

Maybe Brian Dawkins will be the exception. He's a class guy, so here's hoping that's the case.

As for the idiotic suggestion that anyone is currying favor from the front office by offering educated opinions about Dawkins' departure, consider the Daily Snooze source: It's the same brilliant analyst who tried to convince people the Eagles made a monumental mistake before last season when they released Jerome McDougle and kept Darren Howard.

Who led the Eagles' in sacks again?
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 1:14 PM  Permalink | 42 comments
42
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 03/02/2009
    Lurie and Banner conspired to mess with Westbrook's knee in order to keep him just good enough but not great in order to --- raise prices or something.
    — Murrayman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:39 PM, 03/02/2009
    This is only acceptable if Anquan Boldin is on the 50 yard line during the "Fly Eagles Fly" touchdown song next season.
    — elektrika
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:47 PM, 03/02/2009
    He may not be the first beloved nor the last but he is the MOST beloved Bird. I am shocked by your laissez faire attitude. "Another leader and fan favorite will emerge", of course they will but what is the likelyhood they will ever come close to Dawk? The passion and game Dawk brought to the Vet/Linc is a once in a generation or two Eagle. That is why we are "upset". I am glad you were able to wake up from your winter snooze to finaly address this although it is half way down the page. Maybe now that your back you might what to do some actual reporting to see how this played out inside Novacare.
    — Earl J
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:55 PM, 03/02/2009
    Congrats to jeff & joey for getting a 5th round pick for Lito!! Maybe they can draft Sean Andrews' sister and have the family O-line!!
    — ChekUrFax
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:57 PM, 03/02/2009
    If you're going to insist on suggesting a replacement whose first name starts with Q, dont you think Mikell would be the more obvious choice over Demps?
    — K,M
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:00 PM, 03/02/2009
    "Remember Hugh Douglas? Remember Troy Vincent? Remember Bobby Taylor? Remember Duce Staley? Remember Jevon Kearse?" EXACTLY! People we need to be less concerned about losing a soon to be 36 year old on the downside of his career and more concerned about the other things the Eagles are not doing this offseason and what our division rivals are doing. The Cowboys and the Giants got a lot better this weekend and the Redskins picked up the best defensive player in the game. The Eagles have a lot of holes to fill and i'd feel a lot better if they started spending some money to do it.
    — ynot716
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:01 PM, 03/02/2009
    They better get a power back for goal line and short yardage as well as a guy who can carry 15 times a game in the first 3 rounds of the Draft. Other needs are WR and offensive line which the 2 first round picks should be used for.
    — BFlint
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:03 PM, 03/02/2009
    Did this D-bag just suggest that "Another leader and another fan favorite will emerge and it might even be Quintin Demps". Are you Effing kidding me? No one on the current roster can even come close to Dawkins as a leader, teammate and fan favorite.
    — jjbrett23
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:08 PM, 03/02/2009
    we all loved bdawk but denver overpaid 4 him....as far as the rb situation the eagles need ward and a rb in the draft... booker needs to go....lets all hope the eagles have something up there sleeve cuz the teams in our division are gettin stronger and we havent done much at all so far......
    — the tru 1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:12 PM, 03/02/2009
    Sign Shonn Greene!! The Eagles could steal him in the 2nd or 3rd round....but they probably won't!
    — Wolfgang
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:23 PM, 03/02/2009
    "Remember Hugh Douglas? Remember Troy Vincent? Remember Bobby Taylor? Remember Duce Staley? Remember Jevon Kearse?" Yeah. And no one cared because they are not Brian Dawkins. Dummy.
    — Nico Lange
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:23 PM, 03/02/2009
    Hey rexbigonia, I didn't know troglodytes were literate enough to comment on this site. Maybe you and Shabba Rommel can compare notes. It amazes me that cretins like you have enough fortitude to get through the day...
    — fizzbin
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:26 PM, 03/02/2009
    Lurie & Banner - continue to deceive! When will they EVER get it?
    — Irish Frank


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About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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