Remember that 84-yard punt return to beat the Giants back in 2003? No way, when he got the ball, Westbrook could have told you how he was going to get to the end zone. He got there, though, and he might have saved a season.

Westbrook has a similar outlook on the negotiations to redo his contract. The Eagles' franchise running back understands that the collective-bargaining agreement limits what management can do as it tries to upgrade a 5-year, $25 million deal both sides agree he has outperformed. Westbrook still thinks there are ways to reach his goal of being one of the league's highest-paid backs.

"I think they can abide by those rules and get a contract done," Westbrook said. "It's an obstacle, of course, but working together, with them and the NFLPA, they can get it done."

Eagles president Joe Banner is no less eager to put this controversy to rest, but Banner said yesterday that the situation makes for "the most complicated" negotiation he has encountered.

The No. 1 problem is that earlier this year, the Eagles converted a roster bonus due Westbrook to a signing bonus, something beneficial to both sides. But once they did that, Banner said, any other adjustment to Westbrook's contract within 12 months are not allowed to change his cap figure for the final 3 years of his deal. Westbrook counts almost $15.5 million against the cap over the next 3 years. That isn't what he's scheduled to make, of course - the $15.5 million figure includes bonus proration. Westbrook will actually make about $11 million during that time. So maybe there's a way to somehow pay him up to his cap figure, without raising that figure. But the "Deion rule," named after Deion Sanders, limits how far above Westbrook's salary the team can go with a signing bonus, Banner said.

"Other rules complicate it even further," Banner said.

Yet, Westbrook thinks there are ways to do it and he says negotiations are ongoing. It would be helpful if agent Todd France would detail some of those ways, but France has not responded to calls or e-mails.

Westbrook responded to a question about whether he wanted his contract settled before the start of the season by saying: "That's what I'm counting on."

"I don't have a deadline right now . . . I want those guys to be able to work through something. Hopefully, it happens sometime soon."

Westbrook said his participation in the Aug. 8 preseason opener at Pittsburgh, should no deal be struck before then, is "one of those things that you have to cross that bridge when you get there."

Yet, "I'm optimistic," Westbrook said. "I'm here. If I wasn't optimistic, I wouldn't have come."

The same bridge-crossing metaphor was employed when Westbrook was asked what happens if the team maintains it can't get him to where he thinks he belongs, and stay within the rules.

"I'm not sure what we can get to with the rules," he said. "Hopefully, we can get to the number that we're both looking at, and that's within the rules, as well."

Earlier, around the time that Westbrook fired agent Fletcher Smith and began the search that last week brought him to France, at least one published report said Westbrook wanted his deal restructured, not extended, which would further limit management's options. Westbrook said yesterday that he is not limiting discussions to a restructuring of the remaining years.

"I want the thing to work out," he said. "I want to get the most money that I can in the amount of years that I can. I'm not opposed to an extension. I'm not opposed to just playing the 3 years out [without extending]. I just want to be able to be compensated like one of the top running backs in the NFL."

Westbrook clearly was not saying, "I don't care about the rules, just pay me."

"I've been a part of it for the last 7 or 8 months, I've followed it all," Westbrook said. "There are different rules you have to abide by, and I think that they can abide by those rules and get the contract done."

When he reported to camp last week, reporters asked Westbrook his rationale for seeking so much more, given that he turns 29 in September, and superstar running backs rarely perform at their peak level after age 30. Westbrook mentioned a few exceptions to that rule, but he also brought over-30 wide receivers, such as former teammate Terrell Owens, into the discussion. Since Westbrook caught a franchise-record 90 passes, for 771 yards last season, maybe the comparison has merit. Maybe he shouldn't be judged solely on comparable running backs.

"I think that because I do catch the ball that I'm comparable to some of those [wideouts]," Westbrook said yesterday. "But you have to look at impact players, guys that have been able to get it done not only as running backs but as receivers as well. There are guys that have played a long time at running back in the NFL." He went on to name Marcus Allen, Jerome Bettis and Warrick Dunn, along with Jacksonville's Fred Taylor, although Dunn and Taylor have never been at the very top of the class, where Westbrook and France are arguing Westbrook belongs.

"It's about production," Westbrook concluded.

And clearly, he expects these talks to produce a deal. *