Brian Westbrook

I can't think of another place to include this, so I'll post it on it's own.

In Sunday's Dallas-Philly game I saw a wonderful play.

With just over two minutes remaining and the Eagles clinging to a small lead, Philly's Brian Westbrook took the handoff and somehow found a clear path to the end zone without a defender in sight.

What he did next promted this post.

He could have walked the ball into the endzone. It would have put the Eagles up by two scores with as many minutes remaining. It would have padded out Westbrook's stats. It would have been one more statistical marker to flaunt at his next contract negotiation.

Instead, he paused.

He knew that it was unlikely Dallas would mount a comeback if he scored. But the chance remained that a quick score, a successful onside kick, or any combination of fate could hand the victory away.

He knew that he had just given the Eagles a first down. He knew Dallas had blown their last time out and could not stop the clock. If he somehow failed to score they could run out the clock without ever moving the ball or giving Dallas a chance to retaliate.

He chose to kneel inside the one yard line.

Philly ran out the clock and earned the victory, and the cold hard line of the box score will forever show that the Eagles running back failed to score.

But with that play Brian Westbrook forever earned my respect.