Dawk, Lito and Andrews in the Pro Bowl

[Butchers Bill]

I'm too smart to serve.  They would reject me on grounds of "thinks for himself."

[Seabiscuit36]

Pro Bowl vote has Eagles stunnedBrian Westbrook's omission detracts from a great honor for Brian Dawkins, Shawn Andrews and Lito Sheppard.
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
If Andy Reid was right, the Pro Bowl voters missed on a slam dunk yesterday.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was not among the players chosen to represent the NFC in the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and the three Eagles who will represent the team were disappointed by the decision.

Safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Lito Sheppard, and offensive guard Shawn Andrews expressed disbelief over Westbrook's omission. Dawkins, who will make his sixth Pro Bowl appearance, was the most outspoken.

"When I heard the announcement and he didn't make it, that was a huge shock to me," Dawkins said. "Because knowing what this cat means to this team and this offense... . Rushing yards may not be up there with some of those other guys, but I'll tell you what, I'll take this cat over those guys any day. He does so many things for this team, and he causes so many matchup problems for the opposing team."

Westbrook was chosen as a first alternate.

San Francisco's Frank Gore, the New York Giants' Tiki Barber, and St. Louis' Steven Jackson were chosen as the NFC's running backs. All three have more rushing yards and more yards from scrimmage than Westbrook, but the Eagles' top runner is averaging more yards per carry and more yards per rush than them. Westbrook, with 11 touchdowns, is second among NFC running backs in that category, after Dallas' Marion Barber (15).

Reid, of course, had said Monday that he thought Westbrook's Pro Bowl selection should be "a slam dunk."

"I think if he's not the best running back in the league, he's definitely one of the best," the Eagles coach said. "This guy can do anything."

Except, apparently, make the Pro Bowl roster. The only year Westbrook went to Hawaii was 2004, when he was chosen as a first alternate and added after another player was injured.

The Pro Bowl voting is by players, coaches and fans.

Despite the disappointment over Westbrook, Dawkins was elated to be going to Hawaii again. Both he and Andrews were named starters. Sheppard will be a reserve.

With six Pro Bowls, Dawkins is tied for third with Hall of Fame end Pete Pihos for the most in team history. Only Chuck Bednarik (eight) and Reggie White (seven) have played in more.

Dawkins, 33, said going to the Pro Bowl never gets old. "It never will and it shouldn't," he said. "When you get invited or voted in, that means your teammates and the people you play against respect you," Dawkins said.

The Eagles safety also was voted the NFC defensive player of the week yesterday after forcing two fumbles and coming up with an interception Sunday in the win over the Giants.

"It's huge, and I am definitely excited about the direction we are heading in," Dawkins said. "I believe we are playing our best football at the right time. With me going to the Pro Bowl and having all these accolades, that means I am doing things to help this team win. That is what it is all about."

Sheppard, 25, will make his second Pro Bowl appearance in three seasons. Despite missing three games and most of the season opener because of a sprained ankle, the fifth-year cornerback is tied for second in the NFC with five interceptions, matching his career high from 2004, when he last went to the Pro Bowl.

Sheppard made game-saving interceptions against Dallas and Carolina this season, and he hopes that some day he will have as many Pro Bowls on his resumé as Dawkins. Both are from Raines High in Jacksonville, Fla.

"I definitely feel like I'm one of the top corners in the league, and I don't see why I can't continue to make it as long as I'm healthy," Sheppard said.

This will be the first Pro Bowl for Andrews, the Eagles' No. 1 draft choice in 2004. Andrews said he believes that his substantial weight loss this season has made him a better player.

"I know I have made some big strides from last year," he said. "I lost the weight and I was able to prevail on a lot of plays, whereas... last year I would be out of breath. I think I was more of a mauler this year."

Andrews, who will turn 24 on Christmas, said keeping the weight off hasn't been as difficult as he anticipated.

"I just took the initiative," he said. "I was tired of being extra huge and being uncomfortable when I walked to the store. I was tired of sweating when it was 20 below... and I don't want to die because I ate too many cheeseburgers."

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

"I don't want to die because I ate too many cheeseburgers."

Quote of the year.

[Feva]

"I don't want to die because I ate too many cheeseburgers."

Quote of the year.

Listen up Andy!!!!!!

[Father Demon]

I live in Hawaii and the Pro Bowl is huge for this state but anyone who gives a rat's ass about this game needs to be committed, immediately.  I have been to probably 20 of them and that's about 15 to many.  There have been a few games that were close and fun to be at but watching these clown fans going wild thinking the players really give a shtein is painful. 

oh, and reno got farged.

I went twice while I lived there.  I met Al Davis and his bodyguards at one of them.  And by met, I mean I said "WOOHOO -- Hey Al Davis!" and he continued to walk by while his henchmen starred me down.

Pro Bowl was fun..  tailgating was fun...

[Rome]

I thought FastFreddie had a spot all but locked up for Hawaii!

Tom Heckert totally agrees with you.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Here is why Ashley Lelie won't be an Eagle...

[Munson]

Why's everyone so shocked about Westbrook? Havn't you heard he's too small to carry the load, even get 200+ carries in a year. And far too injury prone to ever break 1,000 yards rushing.



Westbrook got a raw deal....I think William "Don't Call Me Tra" Thomas should have made it, he's had a very good year. I guess I'm kind of suprised Cole didn't make it, but his production has tailed off too much since becoming a full-time starting DE.

[Feva]

Why's everyone so shocked about Westbrook? Havn't you heard he's too small to carry the load, even get 200+ carries in a year. And far too injury prone to ever break 1,000 yards rushing.

Jesus, man... let it go.  You're on two boards with this petty shtein.

I've never even had this conversation with you and even I'm tired of seeing it.


Let.... it.... gooooo.

[Munson]

Why's everyone so shocked about Westbrook? Havn't you heard he's too small to carry the load, even get 200+ carries in a year. And far too injury prone to ever break 1,000 yards rushing.

Jesus, man... let it go.  You're on two boards with this petty shtein.

I've never even had this conversation with you and even I'm tired of seeing it.


Let.... it.... gooooo.

Giants are an awesome team.

[Don Ho]

I live in Hawaii and the Pro Bowl is huge for this state but anyone who gives a rat's ass about this game needs to be committed, immediately.  I have been to probably 20 of them and that's about 15 to many.  There have been a few games that were close and fun to be at but watching these clown fans going wild thinking the players really give a shtein is painful. 

oh, and reno got farged.

I went twice while I lived there.  I met Al Davis and his bodyguards at one of them.  And by met, I mean I said "WOOHOO -- Hey Al Davis!" and he continued to walk by while his henchmen starred me down.

Pro Bowl was fun..  tailgating was fun...

which ones did you go to? 

It is amazing how alot of the ex-players are so care free during Pro Bowl week.  We've seen and talked to Tony Dorsett, Lawerence Taylor, Mike Golic, Marcus Allen, the late Hank Stram,  (who I hear can be quite a prick).  They all stopped and talked for a little bit and this is at the stadiumn as they are walking around.  Maybe having my son and nephew with me helped but I was impressed how cool they all were.

[Father Demon]

92 and 93.  One year (I think it was 92), we ended up a strip club during pro bowl weekend, and the place was crawling with huge giant mofo's.  As I walk in, already quite intoxicated, there is a girl spread eagle with her snatch about 6 inches form a giant's nose.  I thought I'd be friendly and help him out, so I gently pushed the back of his head so he could smell it better and said (You gotta get in there, brah."

To this day, I'm convinced I didn't get my ass beat because some NFLer didn't want to be in the papers for fighting in a strip club.

I got tossed about an hour later for pretending to tip a girl and squeezing her nipple instead.  Man, that was some night.

[rjs246]

Westbrook got robbed but you can't argue too much about the players who are going. It's just too bad he'll never again be healthy enough to have a season like this one.

ZING!

[SunMo]

i couldn't believe it when I read that Westbrook has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this year, that's pretty amazing for a guy getting a season's worth of carries

[Munson]

i couldn't believe it when I read that Westbrook has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this year, that's pretty amazing for a guy getting a season's worth of carries

If I'm not mistaken, LT is the only other guy with a YPC over 5. But, as rjs said, Westbrook is too injury prone to take the pounding of an everydown back, let alone ever get 1,000 yards rushing in a season.

But you'd figurue a guy with a YPC like Tomlinson's would make the pro bowl....Not to mention he'll most likely be going over 2000 yards from scrimmage this week...I think he's got  like 1885 right now. He could finish with 1300 rushing yards

But Tiki definately deserved it over him. Definately.

I know Trotter + the run defense has been terrible this year...but has Seatle's really been that much better that thier MLB went as the back up?