Checking in around the NFC East

by Ed Valentine on Apr 2, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in New York Giants News

Not much going on with our New York Giants today. There are, however, a few headlines of interest regarding the Giants' NFC East rivals. So, let's check in.

Dallas Cowboys' tight end Jason Witten is getting tired of hearing that he is to blame for Dallas' decision to release Terrell Owens. Witten says he has "no hard feelings" toward T.O., and that "I was a better player because of him." You have to love the fact that Owens is gone, yet his name is still stirring things up in Dallas.
The Washington Redskins are apparently among the suitors for unhappy Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. That, of course, means the 'Skins now have an unhappy imcumbent of their own in Jason Campbell. Never a dull moment around Daniel Snyder and the Redskins. And, as my buddy Rick Snider says, "Dan Snyder rarely gets outbid."
No big news around the Philadelphia Eagles. Over at Bleeding Green Nation they are, however, debating whether or not Brian Westbrook's role in the Eagles' offense should be limited. Umm, you guys go right ahead with that. The Giants, and everyone else who plays the Eagles, would love to see Westbrook's number of touches go down. They might even send Andy Reid a 'thank-you' note.

NOTE: If you haven't been following the SBN Mock Draft over at Mocking the Draft, you will probably want to head over there and get up to speed. The Giants' selection, which I have already made, should be posted there Friday. And no, I won't reveal it yet. You will just have to wait.

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Westbrook

The BGN folks are right. The Eagles can’t ride Westbrook forever. Sure he killed us this year on a few plays, but that had as much to do with the late-season depleted state of our DL and LB corps. At this stage of his career he’s probably most effective coming in as a third-down specialist. His days as a every-down feature back are over.

Best if we talk him down. Maybe the Iggles let him go, we get him to fill the Ottis Anderson role?

by django48 on Apr 2, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

Limiting Westbrook would help keep him healthy, it would give Philly more looks, and it would likely make his break out plays more likely to occur (due to health and surprise factor). He has the rep as the guy, why not play off of that? Unless of course he has an attitude (though I have never read anything of him having the prima donna WR/RB level personality).

by brisulph on Apr 3, 2009 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions

No knock on Westbrook, but he never was nor will he ever

be as good as Anderson, who had the misfortune of playing for one of the NFL’s worst franchises for so long.

by blue gonz on Apr 2, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

but at the same time you have to be happy that the Giants did give him the opportunity to earn his ring as a third down specialist. That’s more than you can say about Barry Sanders. Being the only star on a crappy team can’t be fun.

I still think that Westbrook would be perfect in that role now, regardless of how you measure him up against Anderson over his entire career.

by django48 on Apr 2, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

My fear is that you're right about him in that role

He doesn’t put together great games against us, he just breaks one or two and changes the whole effing game!!!! We’d be in control the entire game and end up with a “L”

I can’t think of another active player who’s hurt us more??
Yes, I still hate Garcia, though the 2007 playoffs puts a smile on my face!!!

by NY17NE14 on Apr 2, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right there.

Also, remember that lafter a year or so, Anderson became more than a third down back for a while. I think he had a season where he gained more than a thousand yards for them.

by blue gonz on Apr 2, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry..

But I have to disagree about this.. This might be my Villanova pride boiling over.. but Brian Westbrook is one of the 5 most talented Running Backs to come into the league in the last decade. Westbrook also may be the most underutilized running back in NFL history.. he’s the best at catching the football since Marshall Faulk and runs with impressive power matched with his incredible change of direction ability. Ottis was a great player and i was barely alive when he played, but he played on run heavy teams.. Brian Westbrook gets the shaft from Andy Reid. After conferring with older Giants fans.. there is no way that Ottis is better than Westbrook.. he was just utilized more

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 2, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with this

I hate the Eagles as much as anyone, but Westbrook is simply an amazing running back. He’s like Tiki in a lot of ways, only w/o being a whiny little bitch despite playing for a coach who doesn’t utilize him the way he should be utilized (so, pretty much the exact opposite of Tiki). He was seriously underutilized early in his career, but shone whenever given a chance, and once he became the “feature” guy (I use quotes b/c an Andy Reid offense will never really feature a running back) he was outstanding and really has been the #1 reason the Eagles have stayed competitive despite their overall talent level falling way off from the early part of the decade.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, but

what’s his value from this point forward? Westbrook’s been seriously banged up and he’s not getting any younger. Maybe he amazes everyone by maintaining a high level of play as an every-down back. Would you take that chance if you were the GM? Don’t know that I would

by django48 on Apr 3, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

To each his own.

I was referring to Anderson’s pre-Giants days.

by blue gonz on Apr 2, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions

oh i know..

but had andy reid used Brian westbrook in his first couple seasons when he was healthiest and when his offensive line was quality, Westbrook could have had a 1500, 500 season

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 2, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And that

is the big difference between Reid and Paul Holmgren. Two exponents of the West Coast Offense, but only one of them who understands the importance of a solid gound game.

by django48 on Apr 3, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe. Maybe not.

I do think OJ’s actual accomplishments surpass Westbrook’s. If only applies to OJ as well as W. If only he’d played for a decent team when in his prime. To make it worse, he was the focal point of that team’s offense. Sure Barry Sanders faced the same situation, but WOD OJ never was nor ever could have been as good as Barry.

by blue gonz on Apr 3, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions