Bodog Beat

Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles has had ankle surgery. If you're an Eagles fan, this should be of some concern to you. (AP Images)

Did you hear the news that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook had "minor" ankle surgery on Friday? Westbrook's agent and the team are saying it's just bone spurs, no big deal, and that Westbrook might miss some of training camp but should be ready for the season.

However, some reports out of Philly say that it's actually a pretty major procedure, and if that's the case the Eagles, 14/1 on Bodog to win Super Bowl XLIV, just lost some betting value.

Realize that Westbrook will turn 30 right before the season starts, and that's generally the magic number for when running backs start to show a major decline. And it's not like he wasn't injury-prone last year. He missed two games because of injury, and after a season-high 33 carries in Week 14 against the New York Giants, Westbrook didn't exceed 53 yards rushing in any of the Eagles final six games, including playoffs. He totaled one touchdown in those six games, and that came on a reception in the wild-card round against the Vikings.

So back to this "minor" procedure. First off, Westbrook already had offseason knee surgery. And why have this procedure now if it will cut into training camp time?

Maybe the Eagles knew this was coming, as they drafted Pittsburgh's LeSean McCoy in the second round of April's draft. Other than that, it's Lorenzo Booker and not much else as the team lost Correll Buckhalter in the offseason.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, if you add the career numbers of all the other running backs currently on the Eagles' roster, they are less than the touches or yards from scrimmage Westbrook had during the 2007 season, his best.

"Would the odds be as much in our favor if he wasn't with us? No," Booker said to the Inquirer.

As good as Donovan McNabb is, Westbrook is the guy who makes that Philly offense go. Watch this situation closely before putting down any bets on the 2009 Eagles.

Get your odds to win the 2010 Super Bowl at Bodog.