Brian Westbrook arrived in Philadelphia to work out for the Eagles ahead of the 2002 NFL Draft.
The weather was miserable. Pouring rain. Howling winds.
"It was one of the worst weather days that I've ever seen," Westbrook recalled.
Westbrook didn't expect to do anything outdoors.
He was wrong.
"They're punting the ball on one field and it's pouring down rain and the wind is blowing the ball all the way to another field," Westbrook said. "I mean, it's crazy. I'm running from field to field just to catch these balls. I mean, it's absolutely nuts. That's how crazy it was. The rain is coming down sideways."
Quarterback A.J. Feeley threw passes to Westbrook so the all-purpose back could showcase his receiving ability. Little did Westbrook know that Feeley was instructed to make life difficult for him.
"He's not even close. I'm making all the catches, but man, he was making me work just to be able to catch the ball," Westbrook remembered. "I showed my ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, even though some of the throws were crazy and the weather didn't cooperate. But I think I was able to show Coach (Andy) Reid and (Special Teams Coordinator John) Harbaugh that I was gritty, that I was hungry, that I can play on this level."
The incredulous workout paid off. Westbrook looked at it as a "rite of passage."
The three-time All-American, the winner of the Walter Payton Award (the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy), and the first player in college football history to gain 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season didn't have to move far to play in the NFL. The former Villanova Wildcat was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He remembers getting the call from Coach Reid while at his parents' house.
"It's one of those moments that you never forget because you're in shock. The whole house erupted," Westbrook said. "We're jumping and celebrating. It was a great thing with my close friends and my family there to share the moment with me."
The Eagles Hall of Famer finished his tenure in Philadelphia as the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage (9,785 yards) and authored a Miracle at the Meadowlands of his own in 2003, winning the game with an 84-yard punt return touchdown with just 1:16 remaining. The team won four NFC East titles and earned a spot in Super Bowl XXXIX with Westbrook on the roster.
Since his retirement, Westbrook has lent a hand in helping welcome the next generation of Eagles. In 2012, he was in New York City to announce the selection of defensive end Vinny Curry. In 2017, he – along with fellow Eagles Hall of Famers Brian Dawkins and Troy Vincent – opened Day 3 of the NFL Draft in Philadelphia with a message directed at former Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson, who used the pulpit to troll Eagles fans.
"I certainly wanted to make sure that Drew wasn't going to get the last word in Philadelphia, in front of our fans, and we had a proper response to that," Westbrook said.
On Friday, Westbrook will be in Pittsburgh to announce the Eagles' Day 2 selections as one of 36 current and former players chosen to represent their teams. The Eagles currently have three selections – No. 54 overall in the second round and picks 68 and 98 in the third.
"It's just one of those things that bonds you to these young men," Westbrook said. "Just being a part of that process with them is always special for me, so I'm super excited about it."
Will Westbrook prepare a message for Pearson, who is attending on behalf of the Cowboys? For Eagles fans? Westbrook is certainly open to any ideas, but his advice for the newest Eagles is simple. It's something that stands the test of time.
"There's no replacement for hard work. I came into it in a day and age where, as a rookie, you kept your mouth closed, you just followed the vets, asked great questions, paid attention, get there early, stayed late, you worked your butt off, and you made something for yourself. And that's the same thing I would encourage anyone that's getting drafted. There's no replacement for hard work," Westbrook said.
"There's no replacement for the amount of time that you put into your job. And the coaches see it. The veterans see it. And when they see that in you, that you want it, they'll pour into you as well. And that's exactly what you want.
"You want the coaches, your teammates to pour into you so that you can be successful. And if you do that, the sky is truly the limit of how far and how high you can go with everything that you do."
