PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- With nothing between him and the goal line in the closing minutes of Sunday's win over Dallas, the only thing that could stop Brian Westbrook was the bellowing of teammate Jon Runyan.
The Eagles were clinging to a 10-6 lead over their hated rivals with just over two minutes left when Westbrook broke through the line and into the open field. But rather than scoring the touchdown that could have put an emphatic end to a big upset, Westbrook stopped at the 1-yard line and went to the ground, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock on the Cowboys.
All because he could hear his right tackle's earlier advice in his mind and urgent orders in his ear.
"I got a stern talking-to by Runyan right before that play," Westbrook said after the game. "He said, 'Listen, if you're down to the 1, take a knee."'
Westbrook didn't know if it was a good idea, but Runyan did.
"He was like, 'Take a knee, Westbrook, take a knee.' "
Runyan was so sure it would be better for the Eagles to run out the clock rather than score and risk a freak comeback, he pursued his running back downfield on the play, yelling the whole time.
"I looked back and I saw all 6-7 or 6-8 of him running toward me saying, 'Get down,"' Westbrook said.
"So, I got down."
Eagles coach Andy Reid credited Westbrook's Villanova education for the decision to stop short of the goal line, but at least some credit should go to -- in the words of Bo Schembechler -- a Michigan Man.
"They were going to let us score to get the ball back, so I suggested this because then they won't get it back," Runyan said. "In a crazy game like this, you never know, you are a long kickoff return or a crazy play and an onside kick away from possibly losing the game."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/f ... ref=si_nfl
good idea or bad idea? either way, brian westbrook killed millions of fantasy owners that hoped for a touchdown.
