Westbrook thinks about holding out of training camp

[Mike Bass]

Brian Westbrook, the Eagles' All-Pro running back, recently suggested that he might hold out from training camp in a display of discontent over his contract.


 Toward that end, Westbrook has fired his agent, Fletcher Smith, and is leaning toward hiring Lamont Smith of All Pro Sports & Entertainment Inc., according to published reports citing an anonymous source.

Attempts to reach Fletcher Smith were unsuccessful Thursday.

The report also quoted Westbrook as saying he probably wouldn't hold out from training camp, but hadn't made up his mind.

Camp opens Monday at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., when rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report by 5 p.m. The rest of the team is scheduled to report by Thursday evening.

Three years remain on the five-year, $25 million extension Westbrook signed in 2005, a deal that became a bargain for the Eagles when Westbrook emerged as one of the NFL's top running backs over the past two seasons.

Last season, his sixth in the NFL, Westbrook rushed for 1,333 yards on 278 carries. He ran for seven touchdowns and caught five more scores. He also had 771 yards receiving.

Westbrook was the fourth-leading rusher in the NFL last season.

Reports surfaced in January that the team was willing to restructure Westbrook's contract. But team president Joe Banner refuted those reports at the scouting combine in February.

"I would suggest one or two years into a five-year contract doesn't make any sense," Banner said then. "You start to get into the third or fourth year, and you have to look at situation by situation."

The report of Westbrook changing agents comes in the aftermath of Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard firing Lamont Smith and hiring Drew Rosenhaus.

Sheppard also is reportedly unhappy with his contract. He is signed until 2012, and will make a base salary of $2 million this year. The two-time Pro Bowl selection lost his starting left cornerback job to free agent Asante Samuel, whom the Eagles signed to a six-year, $57 million deal.

Sheppard, expected to compete with Sheldon Brown for the starting right cornerback job, didn't show up for any of the team's voluntary minicamps, raising questions about whether he will report to training camp.

[BigMike21]

Westbrook knows that offense inside out but has proven to not be the most durable back with his stature (he was great in that dept. last year though).  Honestly, it could work out in his favor to skip the camp and not kill himself.  Walter Jones used to hold out every year when Seattle franchised him something like 3 or 4 years in a row and he said that was part of the reason he was so dominant during that stretch. 

[HOGWILD21]

Their are only 3 people who touch the ball for the Eagles,center to McNabb to Westbrook.I would give him everything he asks for.A little injury prone but worth it. I guess I would be injury prone if I got the ball 99% of the time...lol!