PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – With each fake and every juke, Brian Westbrook leaves defenders grabbing for air and coaches searching for answers.

The New England Patriots will get a first-hand look at the elusive Pro Bowl running back when they play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

“He’s such a great athlete,” Patriots safety Eugene Wilson said. “He can run, he can catch … he’s fast. They do a lot of things with him. We have to be ready.”

The versatile Westbrook became one of the NFL’s best all-around players in his first season as the Eagles’ primary running back. He ran for 812 yards and three touchdowns and led all backs with 73 catches for 703 yards and six TDs in just 13 games.

Not bad for a guy considered too small to be more than just a third-down back in the NFL.

“When people put that label on me, I hear it and I keep going,” said Westbrook, generously listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. “But my ambition and my goals are what drive me.

“I think because of my size and where I went to school, people put that tag on me pretty early without even giving me the opportunity to be a feature running back. I think that was wrong. That’s what analysts do, that’s what people do. For me, I just have to go along my way and prove them wrong.”

The speedy Westbrook set an NCAA record with 9,885 all-purpose yards, including 84 TDs in 46 games, at Division I-AA Villanova. A third-round pick in 2002, he has developed into one of the Eagles’ most indispensable players.

With Westbrook sidelined with a triceps injury last season, the Eagles couldn’t get past the NFC championship game, their third loss in a row. When they finally made it to the Super Bowl on this try, All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens was missing but not Westbrook.

“He’s a triple threat just like Marshall Faulk was, the blocker, the catcher, the runner,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said, comparing Westbrook to the Rams’ running back and past NFL MVP. “He’s very intelligent and able to do whatever it takes to win.”

If only he were a few inches taller, Westbrook might have been playing in the NBA instead of the NFL. He grew up excelling in football and basketball, but colleges weren’t interested in his hoops skills because of his size.

“My dreams got shot down early,” Westbrook said.

Still, he insists he can beat McNabb in a one-on-one pickup game.

“He’s a pretty good player, but he can’t take me,” said McNabb, who was a seldom-used guard at Syracuse.

On the football field, Westbrook is difficult to defend because he isn’t easy to find. Though he spends much of his time behind McNabb in the backfield, he is most dangerous when he lines up as a receiver.

Eagles coach Andy Reid sometimes splits Westbrook wide to the right or left, puts him in either slot or lets him go in motion. The purpose is to create a mismatch, hoping Westbrook is covered by a linebacker or a safety.

If McNabb sees a favorable matchup on Westbrook, he quickly gets him the ball. The result usually is a long gain or a score.

“He can play every position on the field whether it’s the widest position in the slot, next to the tackle, as a split back, as a single back, or an I-tailback,” offensive coordinator Brad Childress said. “You don’t find many people like that. You see many people put there as decoys. He’s able to strike from all those positions. His versatility is what impresses me the most.”

Westbrook could even be used as a punt returner. He returned two punts for touchdowns last season, but wasn’t used in that role this year because he’s such a valuable member of the offense.

Westbrook is more concerned with New England’s defense and a linebacking corps that includes Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi.

“They’re very good linebackers. They’re very active, they’re good tacklers, strong guys and very physical,” Westbrook said. “So we have to do a good job of getting our linemen positioned to get on top of their linebackers. They do a good job of shedding blocks and making plays in the backfield.

“They’re a very physical team. They have big guys who want to get right up in your face. For us, we have to be the aggressor.”

Westbrook’s success should translate into a much bigger paycheck next season. He’ll be a restricted free agent, meaning the Eagles can match any team’s offer.

With Duce Staley in Pittsburgh and Correll Buckhalter missing two of the last three seasons with injuries, the Eagles can’t afford to let Westbrook go and certainly have enough money under the salary cap to keep him.

“He has unbelievable athletic talent,” Eagles tackle Jon Runyan said. “He is the kind of guy who can change direction and has the speed. His size makes him a smaller target and it sometimes makes it hard to bring him down. His feet aren’t planted in the ground much because he’s dancing around people. He is amazing.”

AP-ES-02-03-05 1811EST