Brian Westbrook says production is the key not a player's age.
He cited Terrell Owens' new deal with the Cowboys and Marvin Harrison's deal with the Colts. Both of those deals were signed after the players were 30 years of age. Owens just inked a deal and he's 34 years old. Harrison has a big money deal and he will turn 36 in August.
There's one importance difference between these guys and Westbrook. They're wide receivers and he's a running back. It's hard to find a running back who's turning
Teams just don't give running backs big dollars in guaranteed money when they get close to 30 years of age.
This is going to be a problem unless Westbrook comes off of that $30 million dollars of new money figure. Right now the Eagles are $15 million.
They normally come to a figure for a player and they don't venture far from it.
If Westbrook were to leave camp it would accellerate things but I doubt the Eagles will change their minds. They will probably go to a multi-back situation with Correll Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker filling in for BWest.
Remember the Eagles don't put as much importance on the running back position as other teams around the league. That plan that Andy Reid brought here in the writing pads from Green Bay have the quarterback as the key player on the offense.
To Eagles president Joe Banner that means you pay the quarterback but you don't give the mega bucks to a running back. Remember that the Birds were going to let Westbrook walk if the Owens' situation hadn't blown up.
I don't think Westbrook can make them change their minds.
