With cornerback Ellis Hobbs out for the year and cornerback Joselio Hanson suspended four games for taking a banned diuretic, the Eagles couldn’t afford another injury to a key member of their defensive backfield.
And that’s precisely what the team is currently dealing with.
Coach Andy Reid said Monday that cornerback Sheldon Brown has a strained hamstring, and that an MRI was conducted earlier today.
“We’ll just see how he does throughout the week,” Reid said.
Reid also discussed whether running back Brian Westbrook will play again this season after suffering another concussion.
“I don’t know,” Reid said. “I think it’s too early to tell right now. It’s the last thing on my mind. First thing is that he’s OK and that we take care of him. Football right now for Brian Westbrook is not the important thing. It’s making sure that we get him analyzed, tested and taken care of and then we’ll go from there.
“Not that we didn’t do that before. We took every precautionary measure that we could before and it happened again. Obviously we’re going to check with experts and make sure that we listen to them like we did before. The number one thing is Brian’s health. You can put football aside and make sure that he’s taken care of here.”
Unlike the last time around, Westbrook maintained consciousness after the hit.
“He was foggy,” Reid said. “He stood up and walked off the field, but you could sense that there was something wrong there.”
Given that it’s his second concussion in three weeks, here’s hoping that the Eagles give serious consideration to shutting him down for the rest of the season — and that Westbrook gives serious consideration in the offseason to shutting it down for good. For his own good.
I would hate see the guy’s career end like this. Here’s hoping he can come back and play while not doing any harm to himself or his future.
Since when does having 2 concussions end a NFL career? Am I missing something? Why does everyone want Brian to hang it up? There are guys in the league with 3 times the amount of concussions and no one is asking them to retire.
Why is Brian Westbrook the exception?
I agree with Andy. Westbrook is a vital part of their O but NOTHING’s more important than BW’s long term health. Aikman went through it. Mike Irvin had his career shortened. Steve Young did, too. They’re all a lil different, but are similar in that his life could get effed up quick. I hate it for him and I’m a Cowboy fan.That sucks.
Here’s hoping Jeff Lurie shuts down Andy Reid for good after this season.
Because he came back TOO soon, having 2 concussions back to back like this is exponential.
And every concussion you have, makes you MORE likely to have another one.
Hey mooremi9, who exactly in the NFL has had six concussions and is still playing? Two inside of three weeks is no “Westbrook exception.” It’s a serious medical concern.
mooremi9 says:
November 16, 2009 3:30 PM
Since when does having 2 concussions end a NFL career? Am I missing something? Why does everyone want Brian to hang it up? There are guys in the league with 3 times the amount of concussions and no one is asking them to retire.
Why is Brian Westbrook the exception?
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Very good point – save for the fact that he is not what he used to be…I think some people out there probably want him to shut it down because he is a shell of what he used to be. Either Billick or Rosen (Both AWFUL BTW and inaccurate what seems to be 75% of the time) made a claim that I think will be BWESTS well deserved legacy – paraphrasing -”One of the best backs ever coming out of the backfield as a receiver”
I am/have been/will be a HUGE Bwest fan, but watching him on the one productive play he had in SD (20yrd? screen for first down) – he looked like he was 55 yrs old… Slow(er), easy to tackle, and nowhere near the BWEST of old.
I can remember reports/a press conference from 2 yrs ago where Bwest talked about not loving playing football, and it being something that he “wouldn’t do forever” – He’s a smart guy, and I’m sure he has other opportunities to pursue that won’t leave him motionless on the field.
Maybe Reid should address why there are no running plays on that menu he calls a playsheet…if he needs a lesson in balance, I’m sure his sons can demonstrate on their triple beam!
Mooremi,
I don’t think the issue is just his concussions. More than likely he’s done for the year because of them. The retirement talk is, I think, just speculation based on his age, injury history, and now two concussions in a month. That and the concern for his own health that he expressed after the first one.
Westy is one of the “good guys.”
I would love to see him continue playing but he needs to do right by himself and his family. He could make a name for himself coaching or broadcasting so there is no reason to risk it too much.
Happy trails, Westbrook.
The only person happy about Westbrook hanging up his spurs are classless Dallas fans and Antonio Peirce.
One of the most versatile backs in the game. He was no Marshall Faulk, but he was the next best thing.
@mooremi9
Westbrook is not an exception. Have you not been paying attention to all the chatter going on everywhere about concussions and the implications they have on atheletes? Hell, 3 or 4 ex NFL players are leaving their brains to science when they pass on so the affects can be studied. Players have had their careers,their lives shortened and their quality of life decreased because of them.
Brian has been a great NFL warrior. He’s lost a step. He needs to and appears to be taking this very seriously.
BWest has had am amazing career. He is a RB in the NFL. Today, that means a 3-4 year career…MAXIMUM. He’s in his 7th year and is 30 yrs old. There is no shame in scaling it back and just becoming a mentor to McCoy. He can still be valuable to the Eagles for another 3 years as a vet in the locker room and viable back up role as well.
Best wishes to BWest
“Given that it’s his second concussion in three weeks, here’s hoping that the Eagles give serious consideration to shutting him down for the rest of the season — and that Westbrook gives serious consideration in the offseason to shutting it down for good. For his own good.”
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I’m wondering when Lord Florio added a medical degree to his night school law degree.
Not to say the situation is not serious, but I’m guessing not a one of us here is a MD and decisions like that are best left to professionals, not wanna be journalists like Lord Florio.
To make such an ASSumption, I’m thinking that someone else has BWest on their fantasy team and Lord Florio doesn’t want to take a chance on him having a breakout game……
Get well soon BWest!!
Andy Reid: “I just need to put Westbrook in better positions so he won’t get hit hard, and sustain another concussion. That one is on me, my fault.”
The Eagles don’t need Westbrook as they did a few years ago…the problem hasn’t been at the skilled positions but in mental errors in key spots.. offsides, holding, illegal blocks.. Fokou alone has cost the Eagles a kickoff Return TD, 60 yds on an int., & a critical 3rd down stop at Chargers. Relating directly to the Dallas loss and killing big Mo yesterday
nasheagles: I live in Hendersonville. Where do you watch the games?
As a person who has had 7 concussions throughout his life, I can certainly attest to the fact that it does change your life. Having repeated concussions will make you a different person than what you started. And it’s not fun. I love watching Westbrook every Sunday, but I certainly hope for his sake he does retire and choose a new career.
I also hope that the NFL will work to bring advanced technology to the design of helmets so that this part of the game is minimized as much as possible.
Godspeed Westbrook.
Aikman retired due to his back, not concussions. Yes he had concussions, but back pain due to being killed being sacked his rookie season is why he retired.
And the verdict is still out on the implications of concussions and when multiple ones become too much. If 5 slight ones equal one big one. What a big one is versus a slight one. That is why they are donating their brains, to figure all this out. Not because we know enough about them.
So while its understood that you seem to get them easier once you’ve had your first. (but how many people have a first and never know it?) and its also logical that 2 in this short of a time span is likily not good. ( surprised he was back so quickly due to the after the first the second comes easy belief) There is no reason to assume Westbrook won’t be able to play next year and be fine.
Fact is you cant say “we dont understand concussions” and follow it with a conclusive “so its too dangerous for him to continue playing.”
We simply do not know. None of us live our lives only doing the things we fully understand will not harm us. None of us avoid every activity where the risk is not fully understood. Especially if it would pay us multi-million dollars.
Concussions are not something to be playing around with. Al Toon was one of the first players that I can think of that retired based on his number of concussions. Merrill (sp?) Hoge also retired after a couple of concussions. He (Merrill) recently appeared before Congress to address the NFL’s pathetic treatment of former players, primarily for those who have have problems associated with concussions.
Too many concussions (what determines too many – when the persons mental capacities and attitudes are no longer the same as they once were) have a detrimental affect upon the person and their way of life. Brian should sit down with a neurologist and discuss the issues and problems of continual concussions.
If you really want to see the affect of concussions on people, look no further than boxers. There are many, many boxers who have lost a lot of their mental faculties because of the concussions incurred during their career. (I’m not necessarily referring to Ali, Parkinsons Disease has done a number on him too).