Smith, in fact, is not going to negotiate a new deal for Westbrook at all.

After becoming increasingly frustrated with contract negotiations between Smith and the team, the superstar running back has fired his agent, The Inquirer learned yesterday from a league source.

Smith, who also represents Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, did not return a phone call yesterday, but the league source said the agent told the Eagles Monday that he was no longer representing Westbrook. It marked the second day in a row that news surfaced of a disgruntled Eagles player changing agents.

On Wednesday, cornerback Lito Sheppard replaced Lamont Smith and the All Pro Sports & Entertainment group with the high-profile Drew Rosenhaus. The league source said that Westbrook was likely to hire John Rickert, part of the All Pro Sports & Entertainment group. A move cannot officially be made until Saturday because players' association rules force a player to wait five days before signing with a new agent.

Correll Buckhalter, one of Westbrook's closest friends on the team, fired Fletcher Smith and hired Rickert earlier this off-season.

After meeting with Rosenhaus on Wednesday, the Eagles say they are convinced Sheppard will report to training camp on time Thursday. Westbrook did not respond to an interview request yesterday, but in an interview with The Inquirer last Friday, the six-year veteran was asked if he would consider holding out because of his frustration with the pace of contract negotiations.

"To be honest with you, I don't know," Westbrook said. "I don't foresee me holding out of this training camp, but - "

Fletcher Smith said he did not think it would be wise for Westbrook to hold out of camp, but he, of course, no longer represents the running back.

Smith and the Eagles had been in negotiations for nine months in an attempt to upgrade the running back's contract, which has three years remaining. Westbrook, in the third year of a five-year, $24.9 million contract extension he signed in 2005, made some strong comments about how dissatisfied he was with his current deal during an interview last week.

"When I signed my contract with the Eagles 21/2 years ago, they paid me for the level of play I was playing at the time," said Westbrook, 28. "I'm not at that level no more. I'm at a higher level of play. There's no question about that. The numbers don't lie. My numbers have steadily increased from that point until now. Now, I'm at the point where I'm one of the elite backs in the NFL, and I should be compensated that way."

It is difficult to disagree. In the two full seasons since Westbrook signed his extension, he has compiled 4,020 yards from scrimmage, including a team-record 2,104 last season, when he led the NFL. Only San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson had more yards from scrimmage (4,272) the last two seasons. Westbrook wants to be paid like Tomlinson, who received an eight-year extension worth $60 million, including $21 million guaranteed, before the 2004 season.

"To me, it's really disappointing that nothing has been accomplished," Westbrook said. "I'm not here to embarrass the Eagles because I think they're a good organization, but at some point you have to do what's right. It's really up to them to do it. It's the seventh month of the year, and I've been trying to get it done for at least seven months and a few months during last season. There have been discussions, but if the discussions aren't going anywhere . . . They have for a little bit, and then they haven't. Nothing has changed in the last month."

A team source said the Eagles agree that Westbrook should be better paid over the final three years of his current deal and that the team initiated the contract talks with the running back late last season. Westbrook is scheduled to make a base salary of $3 million this season and also has received a roster bonus of $1.5 million. He is scheduled to make $3.5 million in 2009 and $4.5 million in 2010.

Westbrook and the Eagles have had their share of friction. He boycotted a mandatory minicamp in 2005, then fired agent Anthony Agnone, replacing him with Fletcher Smith. After a shocking holdout from training camp, Westbrook eventually agreed to his current five-year deal in November of the 2005 season.