Brian Westbrook and Dan Rather?

Yep, running back Brian Westbrook did a sitdown interview with the esteemed news anchor for a story on concussions in the NFL. The interview was not included in the final piece.

Rather also delved into the subject that Eagles fans want to know most. Will Westbrook return to play in 2010? He missed eight games in 2009, seven of them because of two concussions. Believe it or not, Westbrook said he's "not sure" and that it's "really up to (the Eagles)."

"I'm under contract another year, and I would love to be in Philadelphia," Westbrook told Rather. "There's no other team that I would love to play for more than the Philadelphia Eagles. But it's a situation where in the NFL, younger, cheaper is better for teams. It's one of those things. It's part of the business. I experienced it when I was younger, and I experience a different aspect now. You have to try and find out, for the team, what's better for them."

Adam Caplan of Scout.com and a weekly guest on Eagles Live! (note that because of the President's Day Holiday it's on Tuesday this week at Noon) reported that Westbrook's salary was the second-highest among running backs this past season. Even though it's almost certain that 2010 will be an uncapped year, the fact that the Giants parted ways with linebacker Antonio Pierce proves that teams will not just spend money because they can. Westbrook understands the business side of the NFL and acknowledges that he may have to play for another team.

"That's part of the business. Like I said, I would love to be with the Philadelphia Eagles for the entirety of my career, but the business says that at some point, you're going to get fired," Westbrook said. "At some point, they're going to say 'You know what, you're not good enough to play here for the amount of money that we would have to pay you."

Only two players in the NFL have had more scrimmage yards since 2004 than Westbrook (8,561), San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (10,300) and Steven Jackson of the Rams (8,994). Westbrook trails Wilbert Montgomery by 543 rushing yards for the most in franchise history.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 3:36 p.m., February 13