Newsflash: Brian Westbrook Fires Agent, Wants Eagles to Pay Up

Michoel BotwinickJul 17, 2008

What is going on?

In a bizarre sequence of events, Eagles superstar running back Brian Westbrook has fired agent Fletcher Smith today, just one day after teammate Lito Sheppard fired agent Lamont Smith in favor of T.O.'s high-profile agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Westbrook, who is also unhappy with his contract situation, may be seeking a pay raise for his current deal, which gives him about $5 million per year.

"When I signed my contract with the Eagles two-and-a-half years ago, they paid me for the level of play I was playing at the time," Westbrook said. "I'm not at that level no more. I'm at a higher level of play.

"There's no question about that. The numbers don't lie. My numbers have steadily increased from that point until now. Now, I'm at the point where I'm one of the elite backs in the NFL, and I should be compensated that way."

It's hard to argue with that. Over the past two seasons, Brian Westbrook accumulated the second most yards from scrimmage of any RB in the NFL, only behind the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson. Last year, Westbrook trumped Tomlinson in that category, posting an outstanding 2,104 yards, the most in the league.

Tomlinson received an eight-year extension worth $60 million, including $21 million guaranteed, before the 2004 season. While Westbrook may not be shooting that high with the pay-raise wary Eagles, near that range is something that the organization might consider.

The question is: If Westbrook does not receive that pay raise, will he hold out from training camp like he did in 2005?

"To be honest with you, I don't know. I don't foresee me holding out of this training camp, but..." Westbrook said last week.

Westbrook, who can officially hire a new agent this Saturday, may be looking into All Pro Sports & Entertainment Inc., the group that previously represented Sheppard.

Whoever the agent may be, one thing is for sure.

Westbrook will be looking for someone who can pressure the Eagles into giving him a pay raise. T.O. also tried to do that, but played it out through the media. Lito Sheppard tried it too, but he hasn't gotten his money yet.

T.O. is gone, and Lito Sheppard is on his way out.

Please, Eagles, just give Westbrook the money he deserves, so that we can all watch him in midnight green for years to come.