Finally, Brian Westbrook is getting his due.

Fans in Philadelphia have known for years how special a player Westbrook is. And as amazing as Westbrook has been during his six years in the NFL, he is an even more unbelievable team player.

Westbrook will make his second trip to the Pro Bowl in February as he, along with guard Shawn Andrews were voted to the NFC's Pro Bowl squad as reserves. Defensive end Trent Cole was named as a first alternate, despite being third in the NFL with 12.5 sacks - the most by an Eagle since Hugh Douglas had that amount in 2002.

"I think it's a big deal for me to make it. I've worked hard," said Westbrook during a press conference Tuesday. "My teammates have worked really hard to put me in this position. It's a big deal for us as a team and myself as a player as well. I continue to tip my hat off to my teammates for showing me the way to work hard and provide me with the opportunities to do the great things I've been able to do on the football field."

RB Brian Westbrook

"When you get voted to go play in the all-star game by your peers and the other coaches, it's definitely validates you as a player," said Westbrook. "I'm excited to have the opportunity."

Westbrook has received a lot of national publicity over the past few days for his selfless act which sealed the win in Dallas. Westbrook broke off a 24-yard run and was a mere one yard shy of his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. But offensive tackle Jon Runyan told him to kneel so the Eagles could run out the clock and Westbrook obliged. The Eagles became the first NFC team to beat Dallas this season by a 10-6 score.

This comes as no surprise to Eagles fans. Westbrook isn't flamboyant. He doesn't provide bulletin-board material during press conferences. He doesn't even celebrate touchdowns, if you're lucky he might spike the ball. Most of the time he hands it back to the refs. Westbrook is all about putting the team first and that's the legacy he wants to leave when he is done as a player.

"I would hope that I would be remembered as a guy that would do anything he can for his team, to help his teammates continue to get better, to help his team win games," said Westbrook. "I would do anything. I want to be remembered as a guy who's selfless. Any chance he had, any opportunity to touch the ball he would try to help his team win. He was a leader and the way that a lot of people doesn't necessarily see him as a leader, but he was guy who when he talked to the team, talk to the guys, they listened and they appreciated that."

Last season, Westbrook was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl and it was a plausible argument that he was robbed. He had 1,217 rushing yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. He caught 77 passes for 699 yards. He had 11 total touchdowns and was the spark on offense that propelled the Eagles to the NFC East division title.

This year, there was no way Westbrook would not make the Pro Bowl. He is not just having one of the best seasons by a running back in the NFL, he is having possibly the best season by a running back in Eagles history. We're talking over the likes of Wilbert Montgomery, Steve Van Buren, Ricky Watters - great, great players. He cracked 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season (1,191), leads the team with 83 catches for 705 yards and has 12 combined touchdowns. And don't forget about his return abilities, Westbrook's 64-yard punt return in the fourth quarter nearly propelled a come-from-behind win against Seattle.

And if the Eagles had that game or one of the other four that the Eagles lost by four points or less, they would still be in the playoff hunt. Westbrook watched on television as the Eagles were eliminated from postseason contention Monday night as Minnesota knocked off Chicago.

"It's disappointing that we're a good football team and we're not playing that way. We haven't won the games we should have won. That aspect is very disappointing, but I'm still proud of my guys. I'm still proud Shawn Andrews for making it (to the Pro Bowl) again. He's a very good player. He'll be in the Pro Bowl a lot of years."