Pro Football Fan Site

Did Mo-Jo make a smart move by taking a knee at the one, or did he risk an easy winning score? (NBC Sports)

Mike Florio says Browns head coach Eric Mangini will be fired at the end of this season. (NBC Sports)

Mike Florio says Browns head coach Eric Mangini will be fired at the end of this season. (NBC Sports)

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday visiting with two specialists to determine whether he can play again this season after suffering two concussions in three weeks. One of the specialists had already been involved in advising Westbrook and the Eagles, but this is Westbrook’s first opportunity to see him in person.

AP Photo/Matt RourkeEagles running back Brian Westbrook has some serious decisions to make about his future.

This seems like a case of incredibly bad luck for Westbrook, who had apparently never suffered a concussion before an Oct. 26 game against the Redskins. The fact that he had the concussions so close together is obviously a scary thing. No matter what the specialists say Wednesday, I think there’s a good chance the Eagles will shut Westbrook down for the rest of the season.



I don’t think the Eagles rushed Westbrook back too soon against the Chargers, but now that he’s suffered a second concussion, they need to be extremely cautious. Westbrook’s a fierce competitor, and that may require the Eagles to make a tough decision for him. Here’s a statement from the Eagles athletic trainer Rick Burkholder:

The Eagles have confirmed a report that RB Brian Westbrook will visit two concussion specialists on Wednesday, November 18 in Pittsburgh. The Eagles will first have Westbrook consult with neuropsychologist Mark R. Lovell, PhD. Following that visit, Westbrook and Lovell will consult with neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, MD. Dr. Lovell has been consulting with the Eagles’ medical staff on Westbrook’s recovery from the first concussion during the past three weeks.

I’ve been around players who’ve just suffered a concussion. Some of them have sort of a glazed look in their eyes, but Westbrook didn’t look like that at all Sunday evening. He just looked angry about his situation as he dressed next to rookie LeSean McCoy and quietly slipped out of the locker room. I think he recognized the fact that his season was likely over.



He was already fighting through a series of injuries before the concussion against the Redskins. But you always knew he would try to play through the ankle and knee injuries that have caused him to miss games throughout out his career. With a brain injury, though, it’s not a question of whether or not a player can tough it out. At age 30, it’s not like Westbrook has spent a ton of time thinking about his post-NFL career. In training camp, it seemed like the presence of a young running like McCoy had energized Westbrook. They roomed together and McCoy hung on his every word.



Now, there’s at least a chance that Westbrook’s career could be in jeopardy. Years ago, players would shake off these type injuries and play the following week. But now we’re finding out more and more about the long-term effects that can occur from repeated concussions.



Here’s a frightening article on NFL brain injuries that was written by noted author Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker. Former NFL offensive tackle Kyle Turley makes some stunning statements in the story.



And former Tampa Bay Buccaneers president Gay Culverhouse has also lent support to former NFL players who’ve suffered head injuries. The more I read about concussions, the more I think it’s a long shot that we see Westbrook on the field again this season.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday visiting with two specialists to determine whether he can play again this season after suffering two concussions in three weeks. One of the specialists had already been involved in advising Westbrook and the Eagles, but this is Westbrook’s first opportunity to see him in person.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has some serious decisions to make about his future.

This seems like a case of incredibly bad luck for Westbrook, who had apparently never suffered a concussion before an Oct. 26 game against the Redskins. The fact that he had the concussions so close together is obviously a scary thing. No matter what the specialists say Wednesday, I think there’s a good chance the Eagles will shut Westbrook down for the rest of the season.



I don’t think the Eagles rushed Westbrook back too soon against the Chargers, but now that he’s suffered a second concussion, they need to be extremely cautious. Westbrook’s a fierce competitor, and that may require the Eagles to make a tough decision for him. Here’s a statement from the Eagles athletic trainer Rick Burkholder:

The Eagles have confirmed a report that RB Brian Westbrook will visit two concussion specialists on Wednesday, November 18 in Pittsburgh. The Eagles will first have Westbrook consult with neuropsychologist Mark R. Lovell, PhD. Following that visit, Westbrook and Lovell will consult with neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, MD. Dr. Lovell has been consulting with the Eagles’ medical staff on Westbrook’s recovery from the first concussion during the past three weeks.

I’ve been around players who’ve just suffered a concussion. Some of them have sort of a glazed look in their eyes, but Westbrook didn’t look like that at all Sunday evening. He just looked angry about his situation as he dressed next to rookie LeSean McCoy and quietly slipped out of the locker room. I think he recognized the fact that his season was likely over.



He was already fighting through a series of injuries before the concussion against the Redskins. But you always knew he would try to play through the ankle and knee injuries that have caused him to miss games throughout out his career. With a brain injury, though, it’s not a question of whether or not a player can tough it out. At age 30, it’s not like Westbrook has spent a ton of time thinking about his post-NFL career. In training camp, it seemed like the presence of a young running like McCoy had energized Westbrook. They roomed together and McCoy hung on his every word.



Now, there’s at least a chance that Westbrook’s career could be in jeopardy. Years ago, players would shake off these type injuries and play the following week. But now we’re finding out more and more about the long-term effects that can occur from repeated concussions.



Here’s a frightening article on NFL brain injuries that was written by noted author Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker. Former NFL offensive tackle Kyle Turley makes some stunning statements in the story.



And former Tampa Bay Buccaneers president Gay Culverhouse has also lent support to former NFL players who’ve suffered head injuries. The more I read about concussions, the more I think it’s a long shot that we see Westbrook on the field again this season.

Now that the Buffalo Bills have fired Dick Jauron, who are the candidates to be their head coach in 2010?



Here are some thoughts on a few potential candidates in no particular order:

Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Does Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell have a chance to be the long term option for Buffalo?

Bill Cowher: It would take a gigantic change of philosophy for Bills owner Ralph Wilson to sign off on a larger-than-life coach such as Cowher. Wilson’s modus operandi has been to pursue coaches who don’t command a high salary and don’t expect organizational control. Cowher essentially has his choice of any openings and will need to be dazzled by an offer the Bills have no history of making.



Mike Holmgren: See Cowher.



Mike Shanahan: See Holmgren.



Jon Gruden: See Shanahan.



Tony Dungy: See all of the above. Plus, he seems to enjoy retirement. He had peace of mind in leaving one of the NFL’s elite franchises. It would be a colossal stunner if he would consider joining one of the decade’s least successful clubs.



Marty Schottenheimer: The former Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers head coach has a reputation for getting his teams into the playoffs but not Super Bowls. Bills fans certainly would settle for that. Schottenheimer spent four seasons playing linebacker for Buffalo, winning an AFL championship his rookie year.



Jim Haslett: Many observers see the former New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams head coach as the perfect choice. Teams often like to go with a coach that has a different personality from the one they just fired. Haslett would be that. He’s fiery. He also has a history with Buffalo. He played linebacker for the Bills from 1979 through 1985 and got his start in coaching as an assistant for the University of Buffalo.



Brian Billick: If the Bills wanted a coach with an offensive background, Billick is available. He was Baltimore Ravens coach for nine seasons, winning the Super Bowl in 2000.



Mike Martz: Similar to Billick, he’s an offensive coach with Super Bowl credentials and currently works for the NFL Network. He coached The Greatest Show on Turf with the Rams for six seasons.



Jim Fassel: Fassel likely would be reasonably priced. He has been eager to get back into the NFL since he was fired as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator in 2006. Fassel was head coach of the New York Giants from 1997 through 2003, winning one NFC title.



Perry Fewell: The Bills’ defensive coordinator has been named interim head coach. He never has been a head coach at any level, but when clubs look for an interim coach from within, they generally look to the offensive or defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was installed 10 days before the regular season and hasn’t exactly done a bang-up job.



Bobby April: Buffalo’s assistant head coach and special-teams coordinator would seem to be a candidate based on how highly he’s respected around the league. But it doesn’t bode well that Wilson bypassed him for Fewell.



Other names to consider: Todd Bowles (Miami Dolphins secondary), Ted Cottrell (former Bills defensive coordinator), Jason Garrett (Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator), Turner Gill (University of Buffalo head coach) Leslie Frazier (Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator), Mike Leach (Texas Tech head coach), Paul Pasqualoni (Dolphins defensive coordinator), Brian Schottenheimer (New York Jets offensive coordinator), Marc Trestman (Montreal Alouettes head coach).