When he’s not stiff-arming his way to touchdowns on the football field, he’s giving back to his community in a number of ways.

And his work has not gone unnoticed.

The 49ers running back is one of 10 prominent professional athletes to be named as finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

The nomination means a lot to Westbrook, who has made a point of giving back to the community throughout his nine years of professional football.

“I am so humbled to be a part of this special group of athletes,” Westbrook said in a press release. “Looking at what this group has accomplished together is just amazing and to know that this is just a small sampling of what we can achieve in our own communities is really awe-inspiring.”

If selected as one of two winners for the Jefferson Award, Westbrook would join the ranks of previous winners such as Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, Lance Armstrong and Bill Gates.

But if Westbrook is to be judged by the company he keeps, he’s surrounded by several quality professional athletes who win on and off the field. The nominee list features athletes from all sports ranging from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees to New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia.

The finalists were recently announced by 49ers Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, who is the founder of All Stars Helping Kids, a partner of the Jefferson Awards.

In order to win, each athlete will raise money for a charity of their choice through a text-to-donate campaign. In addition, Lott’s foundation will award $2,500 for each finalist’s charity. You can learn more about the nominees as well as their foundations by visiting the All Stars Helping Kids official site.

Two winners will be selected in the spring and will be able to attend the Jefferson Awards National Banquet in Washington DC on June 21^st.

Win or lose Westbrook has big plans for his community regardless of the outcome.

“Right now, I am working on plans to construct The Brian Westbrook Community Outreach Center in my hometown and I’m so excited to have All Stars Helping Kids as a partner.”

When ESPN cameras showed the 49ers before the start of Monday’s game against Arizona, tears were running down the face of tight end Vernon Davis.

The 49ers emotional leader was rallying his teammates at midfield much like he does every week. But this time was different.

Clearly fired up for the game that was about to take place, the captain implored his teammates to give everything they had in a must-win game and that’s exactly what they did.

Asked about the emotional state of the 49ers heading prior to the team’s 27-6 win, Mike Singletary said he appreciated the passion displayed by his team. To him, intense emotion signifies something much greater.

“When you’re playing the game, I don’t know if you ever played a sport that you really loved, but when you do things that you love, it brings out passion,” the head coach said. “Everybody shows it in different ways.”

Players weren’t available to the media on Tuesday, but Singletary spoke with reporters prior to the big news of the day that was later announced – Frank Gore being placed on IR along with Dominique Zeigler.

At the time of his press conference, Singletary said he didn’t want to speculate on the severity of Gore’s injury. But the coach did say Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon would have an expanded role.

Now it’s clear that the pair of runners will carry the load for the remainder of the season. Singletary said Westbrook’s maturity will serve the team will in the remaining games on the schedule. He did say the team would be careful with how much exposure the nine-year veteran would get. Westbrook’s 136 yards on “Monday Night Football” were the most by any running back in the showcase game this season.

Asked if Dixon’s inexperience at blitz pickup would deter him from playing the rookie, Singletary said the sixth-round pick has improved in that department throughout the season. “We trust him,” Singletary said. “He knows who to pick up.”

With all the attention given the running back situation, Singletary said he was pleased with the quarterback play of Troy Smith. “He did enough to win. To me, that’s the most important thing.”

With a short week of preparation for the 7-4 Green Bay Packers, Singletary will give his players more mental reps this week than normal to recharge.

Singletary said linebacker Parys Haralson (ankle), center David Baas (concussion), and wide receiver Josh Morgan (shoulder) are all day-to-day with their respective injuries.

Although he’s been living in the Bay Area for the past four months, Brian Westbrook hasn’t stopped giving back to his hometown of Washington D.C. And for the running back’s philanthropic efforts, he has been nominated for the Jefferson Award for Public Service.

Westbrook’s contributions to his community have primarily been to less fortunate children through his nonprofit organization, “Brian’s Blessings.”

“It’s so humbling to be nominated for this award,” Westbrook said. “A very large number of athletes participate in positive things like giving back in their communities, and this award celebrates all the guys out there working hard for the betterment of their neighborhoods, schools and the roots they came from themselves.”

Westbrook is one of 10 NFL players who have been named a finalist for the 2011 award. There are several different categories of Jefferson Award winners, and they range from professional athletes, to high-profile individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service, to every-day volunteers.

Fans can vote for Westbrook by texting “30” to 99158 or by clicking here.

Westbrook believes in leaving a place better than he found it, and with that in mind he plans to extend his reach to the children of the Bay Area.

“If I can make sure that just one family can put a Thanksgiving dinner on the table or that just one child has a backpack and the tools they need to learn, that’s a great feeling,” Westbrook said. “And when I can do those things two and three hundred times over, well, that’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”

Brian’s Blessings was established to help local, less fortunate children foster a sense of high self worth by providing them with the tools they need to learn, play and achieve their dreams. The goal is to raise awareness of the needs of the underprivileged and to address those needs. In addition to providing tangibles such as food, educational materials and toys at the holidays, Brian’s Blessings also strives to provide empowerment and inspiration to the children so they can become successful in their futures.

Brian Westbrook was one of the smartest players Andy Reid ever coached with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles head man said as much earlier in the week when speaking in a conference call with the Bay Area media.

Westbrook spent eight seasons with Reid and is the Eagles all-time leader in yards from scrimmage (9,875). But for all he’s accomplished, Westbrook has yet to make his mark with his new team.

Through four games with the 49ers, Westbrook has one carry for no gain and two catches for six yards. Needless to say, it’s been tough on the 5-foot-10, 203-pound versatile running back.

“The last four weeks I felt I had an opportunity to help this team but it really hasn’t happened for me,” Westbrook said on Friday. “It’s definitely frustrating. As a player you always want to play and help the team.”

But things could soon change. New offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said earlier Westbrook would be more involved against Philadelphia, especially with mismatch creating tight end Delanie Walker ruled out with an ankle sprain.

“Brian’s been a very good player in this league for a long time and we are going to try to utilize his talents and try to get him involved in some way here pretty soon,” Johnson said.

It’s the perfect time for the nine-year veteran to make an impact, just in time to play the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to see those guys, play against those guys. But, for me, I want the opportunity to play, no matter who it’s against. I just want to help the team win, that’s been my goal since I’ve been here.”

Westbrook said he frequently speaks with former teammate and Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, but didn’t ask about the emotions involved with playing their former team. McNabb visited Lincoln Financial Field for the first time as an opponent last week.

“I didn’t ask him about that, but I had a feeling of how he felt… For me it’s different because you’re not playing in Philly.”

Westbrook’s lack of involvement early on in the 49ers offense has been a disappointment to him, but he understands his playing time comes at the cost of losing Frank Gore.

“Frank’s a great running back, he’s done so many things to help this team win. It’s hard to take him off the field because he’s so explosive with the ball in his hands. You kind of understand that, but you know there are spots you can get in the game and you try to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Westbrook is hopeful to get more of those opportunities against players he frequently competed against in practice .

But his familiarity with Sunday night’s opponent is not changing his mentality. That stays the same, whether he’s scheduled to start or come off the bench.

“I prepare just like I’m going to play and hopefully at some point, I get an opportunity.

“I’ve been playing in the league for a long time and have made a lot of different plays. I know I can still do those things. Hopefully this will be the week where I get some chances to open the eyes of some people.”

If all goes to Westbrook’s plan, he’ll re-open the eyes of two fan bases at the same time.

Extra Points

For more on this week’s game, watch Westbrook’s locker room interview, our Weekly Conversation with this week’s guest Mike Johnson, 49ers Focus videos from Wednesday and Thursday, as well as all the headlines from Week 5.

Also, don’t miss out on the premiere of our new kids-only show, 49ers Total Access For Kids. It premieres this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. PT on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and again at 2:30 p.m. PT on KTVU. Visit the Kids Section of 49ers.com for more info.

And lastly, don’t forget to wear red on Sunday night as Candlestick will be undergoing a “Red Out” for the 49ers-Eagles game.

When the 49ers traveled to Philadelphia to face the Eagles last December, coach Andy Reid knew he was matched up against a good team.

And as his squad prepares to come to San Francisco this weekend, Reid believes the 49ers team they will play Sunday is even better than the one they saw nearly 10 months ago.

“They play aggressive football, very similar to the personality of their head coach” Reid said during his Wednesday conference call with the Bay Area media. “They’re tough. They fly around on defense and make plays.”

And two guys on the defense who have been making a lot of plays this season are starting cornerbacks Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer.

Both are physical cornerbacks known for their tough play and great instincts on the field. But they will be facing DeSean Jackson and the rest of Philadelphia’s receiving corps, a group known for its speed and big-play ability.

While Jackson acknowledged those perceptions during his conference call, the third-year wide receiver said those aren’t things he is concerned with heading into Sunday night.

“It doesn’t matter what type of defenders are guarding me,” Jackson said. “Whoever it is, I have to go out there and compete against the guys and do things like that. I look forward to every opportunity being the competitor I am.”

While Jackson isn’t worried about the type of cornerbacks he will be facing, he is concerned with is his team’s record. He said the Eagles are “desperate for a win” after falling to 2-2 last week, and he’d like to come back to the Bay Area, where he played collegiately at Cal, to right the ship.

“I’m just ready to come back and play in front of my home state and just go out there and get a win,” he said.

Jackson has had success in two contests against the 49ers (six receptions for 98 yards in 2008, six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in 2009), but one player he’s yet to face professionally is rookie starting safety Taylor Mays.

Jackson remembers facing Mays when the two were Pac-10 rivals as “a big guy who has some speed.”

But one member of the 49ers roster Jackson and the rest of the Eagles know very well is running back Brian Westbrook.

Westbrook spent the first the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia, and Reid said releasing him this offseason was a very tough decision.

“Brian is one of my all-time favorite players,” he said, “maybe one of the smartest player I’ve coached, and so talented.”

Click here to listen to Reid’s conference call.

Click here to listen to Jackson’s conference call.

Back in OTAs, Mike Singletary said the final players to make his 53-man roster would be the ones who contribute the most on special teams.

On Monday, the 49ers head coach reiterated those intentions days after his team put its best special teams performance together in a 28-24 win over the Oakland Raiders.

Rookie cornerback Phillip Adams provided an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown, cornerback Tarell Brown forced a fumble on a Raiders kickoff return, and both Joe Nedney and Shane Andrus converted field goal attempts. Even fourth-string quarterback Jarrett Brown got in on the act, tackling Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford on a kickoff return in the second half.

Special teams captain Michael Robinson said it was the best the 49ers special teams units have performed in the 2010 preseason.

“It was good to build on, but we still have a lot of cleaning up to do, especially in the kickoff return game,” Robinson said. “It was good to see a punt return spring through there and it was good to see our kickoff coverage getting down there and forcing a fumble. But we felt like we could still do better.”

And if the 49ers put together an even better special teams performance together in time for Thursday night’s home preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers, Singletary’s final roster cuts might be severely influenced.

But it won’t only be the players who will have a chance to sway Singletary’s opinions, special teams coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer will play a key role in the final cuts according to Singletary.

“I think for us to get where we need to go, we need to have great special teams,” Singletary said. “I can’t challenge (Schottenheimer) and say, ‘Hey, I want us to have the best special teams in the league,’ and not give him a say in what he needs.”

“Is special teams important or not? And it is important; it’s going to be very important for us. So yes, (Schottenheimer) is going to have a tremendous amount of weight when it comes to, you know, there may be five, six, seven slots that he has on there that he has a chance to have influence on.”

For players who put a huge emphasis on their special teams play like fullback Brit Miller, that news is nothing out of the ordinary. After he was called up to the 53-man roster late last season, Miller knows just how important special teams are to the 49ers overall success.

“It’s important to me every week,” Miller said. “I made a few tackles last week and I take pride in that. I take pride in being the first one down the field to make a tackle. That’s my goal every time. It’s important to me every day – I don’t care what game it is.”

Notes and Quotes

Singletary commended the play of Adams, but would not officially name him as the team’s punt returner. Singletary did say the seventh-round pick was one of the few players who “definitely” have a strong chance to be the guy.

On the injury front, tackle Joe Staley (knee sprain) and running back Brian Westbrook (hamstring cramp) are “fine” according to the head coach. Tight end Vernon Davis (knee) is close to being ready to return to action, and Singletary said he could possibly return to action this week. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (neck) could have played in Oakland had it been a regular season game, but sat out as a precaution.

Aubrayo Franklin, who signed his one-year franchise tender on Saturday, could play a series or two against the Chargers, Singletary said. The coaches will discuss the possibility a little bit more before a determination is made.

Lastly, Singletary said the final preseason game could very well influence his decision-making on the final 53. Nothing is set in stone.

“There are always few things that the game could influence and it’s just a matter of in that fourth game, it just depends on what jumps out at you. It’s just one of those things that you’re just there at the game, and you’re thinking this guy may be a candidate for the practice squad. This guy may be a candidate for the 53, you know this guy may be a candidate for the 45, and they do something in that game that tilts it one way or the other. This guy may or may not make the team. So those scenarios that I just went through, they can be answered in that last game.”

For a deeper look into special teams, check out TV49′s special look at special teams.

Several prominent members of the 49ers are yet to see any action this preseason, but head coach Mike Singletary said that will change when his team faces the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night.

Running backs Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook and wide receiver Michael Crabtree didn’t take the field during the team’s first two contests, but all three will be out there to showcase their talent in the third preseason game.

“I just want to see our guys continue to take another step, that’s all,” Singletary said after Thursday afternoon’s practice. “Just continue to execute and let’s continue the progression.”

Singletary said Gore will likely play one series, but maybe more depending on how his first series goes. Crabtree will play about one quarter, and Singletary did not specify how long Westbrook will be in the game.

Tight end Vernon Davis (knee) will not play.

Kick-off for Saturday’s game is set for 6:00 p.m. PDT. The broadcast on KBCW/CW 44 Cable 12 will be tape-delayed and will air at 9:00 p.m. PDT.

Although Brian Westbrook has moved to the Bay Area, he hasn’t forgotten about his hometown of Washington DC.

And last week, the 49ers new running back made sure that at least 150 kids from Washington DC area would have the necessary tools to succeed in the classroom.

Westbrook partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington DC to provide 150 underprivileged children with backpacks filled with school supplies. The gift was been made possible through Westbrook’s non-profit organization, Brian’s Blessings.

“In that area, there are a lot of young kids who can’t afford to be prepared for school,” Westbrook said. “If these kids aren’t prepared with the school supplies they need, then they have a much smaller chance at success in the classroom.

“It’s very humbling for me to participate in things like this. My hope is that this encourages the kids to learn and feel like they can be anything they want to be.”

Westbrook also gave a letter to the children encouraging them to work hard and believe in themselves.

For more than six years, Brian’s Blessings has helped underprivileged children foster a sense of high self worth by providing them with the tools they need to learn, play and achieve their dreams. Its goal is to raise awareness of the needs of the less fortunate and to address those needs. In addition to providing tangibles such as food, educational materials and toys at the holidays, Brian’s Blessings also strives to provide the empowerment and inspiration children need to become successful young people.

Although Westbrook was not in Washington DC to hand out the backpacks himself, his parents, Ron and Zelda Westbrook, were on hand to deliver the personal touch.

“My parents raised me the right way and they always taught me to give back to people who are less fortunate than me,” Westbrook said. “I want to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed in life.”

Brian’s Blessings has primarily helped youth in the Washington DC area, but Westbrook said he plans on expanding its reach to the Bay Area.

Zelda Westbrook, Brian’s mother, handing out backpacks to the kids.

Here are some of the 150 children who benefitted from Westbrook’s gift.

It’s the last open training camp practice for 2010 and fans were lined up around the block two hours before it started. I’ll share notes from practice as it unfolds in case you’re not here with us.

It’s special teams period at the moment. Defensive linemen aren’t involved in coverage teams, but many of the perimeter players are. Kickoff team is up now working in front of the packed bleachers.

By the way, it’s 49ers Kids Club Training Camp Day, which means members of the 49ers Kids Club presented by See’s Candies earned an exclusive VIP experience. The kids will get an exclusive autograph session as well as the opportunity to run drills on the practice field after practice.

Kickoff return is up next, Ted Ginn Jr. Is first to receive, followed by fellow receivers Dominique Zeigler, Josh Morgan and Bobby Guillory.

A new wrinkle is introduced to the ball security drills I wrote about earlier today on 49ers.com. This afternoon, the ball carrier in the defensive back group holds the football in the air (simulating a made catch) while a teammate works on knocking the ball loose.

Now the receivers have joined the drill. A wideout catches a quick pass ands the DBs work on breaking down at the ball carrier, showing the coaches they can get in front of the receiver and be in position to make a tackle.

After missing the team’s last two practices (veteran courtesy) Brian Westbrook is back to work, currently going through individual drills with the 49ers running backs. With the group positioned by a VIP tent, a large contingent of Faithful fans are taking photos of the newest 49er.

Well that didn’t take long. Westbrook and Gore are lined up in the backfield together during 7-on-7 period. Gore catches pass from Smith, next play Westbrook catches swing pass. Faithful gave “B-West” a nice ovation.

Best play of team period, Smith to Ginn Jr. Down the middle for 40-yard TD. Next play, Smith completes deep over-the-middle pass to Delanie Walker for a 30-yard gain.

Perhaps Smith’s best pass of the day was a skinny post to Morgan. Patrick Stoudamire provided great coverage, but Smith’s throw was in a tight window where only Morgan could catch it.

Plays later, Diyral Briggs picked off Smith by making an impressive leaping catch on pass intended for Walker.

That looks to be it for practice.

Mike Singletary is scheduled to speak to the media prior to Tuesday’s only practice of the day.

New 49ers running back Brian Westbrook just trotted out to the practice fields wearing his red No. 20 jersey.

Singletary said Westbrook’s addition won’t change the team’s expectations for the upcoming season. They were already high before the talented runner signed a one-year contract, the head coach said.

Wide receiver Brandon Jones is out on the practice field for the first time in more than a week. Jones was hampered by a hamstring injury but is lining up to field kicks during the opening special teams period. Josh Morgan is also returning kicks today. Rookie wideout Kyle Williams is out with a sprained big toe suffered Sunday against the Colts.

I’m positioned by the running back individual drills taking a closer look at Westbrook. First thing I’ve noticed is how low he gets to the ground during cone drills.

Outside linebacker Travis LaBoy is back practicing for the first time since suffering a concussion at the team’s lone practice in Monterey.

Several plays into first 7-on-7 period and Westbrook has yet to jump in. Looks like he’s only getting mental reps. He’s standing right by running backs coach Tom Rathman going over each play call.

During the period, Joe Nedney works on field goals on the adjacent field. He didn’t suit up against the Colts, but Singletary explained he knows what Nedney can do already.

Highlights from first team period included: a one-handed catch by Anthony Dixon on a quick pass out of the backfield and Alex Smith’s 40-yard deep touchdown to Ted Ginn Jr. down the left sideline over Shawntae Spencer’s coverage.

Not a serious note, but Andy Lee is wearing a black hat today. It’s important to note because he’s worn the same red 49ers hat for the last five years every day at practice.

Team works on two-minute offense with the soothing sounds of Earth, Wind and Fire blaring from speakers lining the practice fields to simulate crowd noise. Smith connects on first four passes. Make that six passes. Smith hits Gore in the right flat then completes comeback to Ginn, who makes amazing one-handed grab. Less than 40 ticks on the clock, Smith lasers deep end zone pass to Jason Hill for a touchdown.

That’s it for practice.

Here’s some reaction in the locker room after the conclusion of practice.

Across the board, the 49ers were excited to welcome Westbrook into the locker room on Tuesday.

“He works hard on and off the field,” said 49ers safety Michael Lewis, Westbrook’s former teammate with the Philadelphia Eagles. “He’s going to make some plays for us out there.”

One of Westbrook’s teammates at the 2004 Pro Bowl also was pleased in finding out the news Monday afternoon.

“I was definitely excited about that because I know he’s a great player,” cornerback Nate Clements said. “Over the years, he’s been a very explosive player. He’s a talented player and I’m happy to have him on our team.”

One of the 49ers largely responsible for opening running holes for Westbrook, tackle Joe Staley, said the addition of Westbrook was “huge” for the 49ers.

But before Westbrook can make an immediate impact he has to learn the playbook . It’s the first time in eight seasons Westbrook will have to learn a new offense. That’s why he spent most of his time during team periods going over plays with running backs coach Tom Rathman and other members of the 49ers offense.

“I’m just trying to learn the offense and get a grasp of things,” Westbrook said after his first practice with the 49ers. “Really, the hardest thing to do is sit on the sidelines and watch, but that’s probably the best way to learn.”

Westbrook said he’s been instructed to take things slow and learn the playbook before he sees action on the field. As for playing this Sunday in the 49ers preseason home opener, that will also be a decision made by Singletary.

“If you don’t know the plays, you’re wasting your time out there on the field. You have to learn the plays first and then we’ll go from there,” Westbrook said.

Rookie Responsibilities

It’s obvious that the 49ers offensive linemen have been working extremely hard on the practice fields during training camp. But what they’re not doing this year… is working over their rookie teammates to do countless amounts of chores.

“It’s training camp, their heads are spinning and we’ve eased off on them so they can learn that playbook,” Staley said. “But once the season comes, they’re definitely going to be doing chores.”

Staley didn’t have it as easy as a rookie in 2007. As the only newcomer to the offensive line, he was responsible for doing chores for the entire line, including random errands for former 49ers guard Larry Allen.

“I had to do everything, get Jamba Juices, go get snacks, food for the trips, breakfast in the morning, everything and anything they wanted – especially for Allen. He’d ask me for anything.

“He’d be like, ‘Hey rookie, I need this magazine, it’s only at this 7-11 and it’s 40 miles away. Go get it.’ And I’d be like, ‘OK…’ I would go get it, that’s the type of stuff we had to do. And I had to sing, which these guys haven’t had to do yet.”

Check out photos from Tuesday’s afternoon practice session.

Linebacker Parys Haralson has a laugh during stretching.

Offensive linemen work on snaps on the practice fields.

Vallejo native, wide receiver Bobby Guillory running a route at practice.

Head Coach Mike Singletary and VP of Player Personnel Trent Baalke chat during Tuesday’s practice.