By Khalil Garriott
NFLPLAYERS.COM

Brian Westbrook, all 5-foot-8 of him clad in black, scours the scene before making his way through the crowd. Accompanied by a male friend, the soft-spoken star is surrounded by others in the NFL’s elite, many of whom have attracted larger entourages on this night. No matter. Westbrook is glad to keep a low profile as his unassuming party of two casually slips through the V.I.P.-filled room relatively unnoticed.

For years, Westbrook has been overlooked and doubted—for being too small, too often injured or for being a third-round draft pick. By now, he’s immune to the naysayers. Not receiving the credit he deserves has built a sizeable chip on his shoulder, but it doesn’t define him.

“A lot of people that play in this league aren’t necessarily the best player at their position that get a lot of recognition, [but] they get that because they went to a big school or they won a lot of awards while they were in college,” Westbrook said. “The numbers don’t dictate that they should have all this media coverage that they’re having.

“I put up those types of numbers, [but] I don’t do celebration dances; I don’t talk bad about the players on my team. I go out and support the players on this team and go out and do what I have to do every game.”

Impact vs. Injuries

It’s fitting that Westbrook’s official Web site calls him “The Ultimate Weapon.” The do-it-all running back for the Philadelphia Eagles is regarded as one of the best in the game. Having been a valuable commodity during his first four years, Westbrook has proved indispensable over the last three seasons. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and leads all NFL running backs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns since 2004.

But the injury bug has bit Westbrook throughout his career, nearly overshadowing his myriad accomplishments. He hasn’t been able to stay completely healthy over the last few years. He has suffered injuries to some critical areas for a football player—first, one of his knees, then a triceps muscle tear, followed by a foot injury and yet another knee problem. Thus, doubts about his durability and injury history continue to surface.

Still, Westbrook’s starring role in Philadelphia has come as no surprise, as he has tasted success at every level of his playing career. The Washington, D.C. native, who was a lifelong Redskins fan until bitter division rival Philadelphia drafted him in 2002, still holds the NCAA record for all-purpose yards and won the Walter Payton Award as the best player in Division I-AA while at Villanova University, where he established 41 school, 13 conference and five NCAA records.

“Successful people are willing to do things that unsuccessful people are not willing to do,” Westbrook said.

Since becoming the Eagles’ featured running back in 2004, Westbrook has truly come into his own. A strong performance in the Super Bowl that year and subsequent invitation to his first Pro Bowl officially put him on the map.

“I think for me,” he said, “I just want to be the best player, the best running back that I can be.”

In 2009, Westbrook should remain an integral part of the Eagles’ identity, as the team looks to build off its run to the NFC Championship Game. As he goes, so goes the Eagles offense.

“He’s one of the all-purpose, multi-weapon guys in this league,” said Denver Broncos free safety Brian Dawkins, a former teammate of Westbrook’s. “He can make you look silly. His quickness is unreal. There aren’t many guys in this league who can start and stop like he does.”

When his team has leaned on him during close games, Westbrook has been a rock of stability. His elusiveness as a runner and versatility to be used as a receiver allow the Eagles to use him in complex roles. If the run game and the pass game are both clicking, No. 36 is often the catalyst for that success.

“This guy is as fine a football player as there is in the National Football League,” head coach Andy Reid said of Westbrook. “He catches the ball well, he runs the football well, he’s very valuable to this football team and I have a lot of trust in him doing either one,” Reid added.

Despite his injury history, Westbrook’s toughness impresses those in his own locker room and elsewhere around the league, considering the number of touches he gets each week. Since 2003, he ranks No. 1 among NFL running backs in yards per touch.

“He’s the best back I’ve played against since I’ve been in the league,” said Tommie Harris, an All-Pro defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears. “I’ve always thought that. I’ve never seen a back who can do stuff he does—very shifty, his quickness, his speed, catch out of the backfield, toughness, can run you over, different things. He’s just the best all-around back I’ve seen.”

Just as his stature was a factor in Westbrook being a third-round draft pick, his health has remained a question mark. Westbrook underwent cleanup ankle surgery June 5, but has said he expects to be healthy for the start of training camp July 29.

“I think people have questioned the things I can do as a player as far as my durability,” Westbrook said. “Can he play 16 games? Can he last a whole year as well as be productive? Hopefully, I have. People are always going to doubt me. They always have.

“I went to a small school. I wasn’t a No. 1 draft pick. Right now, all that matters is my ability to help this team win football games, and I’m going to go out there and give my team all I have. Hopefully, we’ll win.”

Setting the Standard

If Philadelphia is to enjoy an even better year in 2009, the players in front of Westbrook will have to play a big part, in the literal and figurative senses. The humble Westbrook bought a vacation for each member of the team’s offensive line for their efforts in his record-breaking 2007 season.

“They’ve probably played the biggest role, more so than … myself,” Westbrook said of the Eagles’ offensive linemen. “Those guys have done a great job of stepping up and filling gaps. It’s the best offensive line that I’ve been around since I’ve been here. Those guys deserve a lot of credit,” he said.

Westbrook, who turns 30 in September, said he doesn’t model his game after any running back from the past. Yet other players model theirs after him.

“I just try to go out there and be the best that Brian Westbrook can be,” he said.

That doesn’t mean he won’t acknowledge similarities he shares with New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush.

“I think we do some similar things. Reggie’s an exciting player,” said Westbrook, one of the modern-day backs excelling in a West Coast-style offense. “He’s fast and makes some people miss, returns punts, catches the ball well out of the backfield as well as running the ball. Actually, they’re stealing all of our offensive plays where Reggie’s getting the ball out of the backfield. A lot of those plays, if you watch them, came from us,” he jokingly added.

As two of the league’s most dynamic players, the comparisons between Westbrook and Bush—who are similar in size and play the same position in the same conference—are likely to exist for years to come.

“I’m not a comparison type of guy,” Westbrook said. “It doesn’t really bother me.”

Lookahead to 2009

The selection of LeSean McCoy in April’s NFL Draft may ultimately take some carries away from Westbrook, but that could be a blessing in disguise. The wear and tear on his body has increased over the course of his seven-year pro career. But the Eagles are a different team when he is healthy.

“When you watch him, he’s one of the scarier backs in the league to play against because he can beat you out of the backfield catching the ball, he can beat you running the ball—he can beat you every way,” said Michael Strahan, a former New York Giants defensive end who regularly faced Westbrook during his career. “You can’t say enough about the way he plays. And he’s definitely the key to the way that offense runs.”

Coming off a 14-touchdown season, Westbrook seems to be headed down the right path. A player with his ability improving each year is a scary thought for Eagles foes.

“There’s not a lot he can’t do,” Saints linebacker Jon Vilma said. “He’s the total package, and that makes him very difficult to defend.”

Westbrook said, “I think experience has really helped me a whole lot. The more and more you go in your career, you are able to see things differently. You are able to see the scheme a little bit more. That experience has allowed me to be a better player.”

The rest of the NFL is on notice: Do not underestimate “The Ultimate Weapon.”

For complete information on Brian Westbrook, including statistics, achievements and related videos, visit his player page on NFLPLAYERS.COM.