The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they will release running back Brian Westbrook.

"Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is even a better person and leader," said head coach Andy Reid. "In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen. I had a conversation with Brian this morning to let him know. This is by far the most difficult part of this job. We wanted to make this move now in order to maximize Brian's chances of landing with another NFL team."

Westbrook will finish his Eagles career as the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage (9,785) after being selected in the 3rd round of the 2002 draft from Division I-AA Villanova. He also ranks 2nd in rushing yards (5,995) behind Wilbert Montgomery and 3rd in receptions (426) behind Harold Carmichael and Pete Retzlaff. In addition, Westbrook's 68 total touchdowns ranked 3rd in team history behind Carmichael and Steve Van Buren. He holds the franchise's single season record for most scrimmage yards in a season (a league-leading 2,104 in 2007) and most receptions in a season (90 in 2007). He eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 20 times (including playoffs) during his career, tying for 2nd most in club history.

"Brian Westbrook is one of the most electric players in the history of this franchise and is certainly also one of the most popular," said Eagles Chairman Jeffrey Lurie. "He was personally one of the my favorite players to watch each and every Sunday and his playmaking abilities, leadership and values will be missed."

Said team president Joe Banner, "We all know how valuable Brian was as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and he will certainly go down as one of the greatest Eagles of all time. But what really showed me how special a person Brian is, was watching the way he interacted with my children. That said more to me about Brian than anything else he could have done on the playing field. We will miss him both as a person and as a player."

NHRA’s winningest driver, John Force, got back into the winner’s circle after a 20-month drought and was joined by Larry Dixon and Mike Edwards in collecting season-opening Full Throttle Drag Racing Series wins at the 50th anniversary Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

The victory at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, during a weekend filled with nostalgic moments and memories, is Force’s record 127th and it came in his 203rd career final, but his first since the 2008 Topeka event, 623 days ago. The Top Fuel win by Dixon also marked a bit of a comeback as his team didn’t even qualify at last year’s race, where qualifying was shortened by rain. Edwards’ win continued the dominance that the reigning Pro Stock champ showed in closing out his successful 2009 campaign.

Force, coming off his first winless season since 1986 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of his longtime partnership with Castrol, showed that he’s still in fighting form by winning the Winternationals title, his fifth, on a holeshot, 4.124 to 4.123 against Ron Capps. The last time that Force led the points was Nov. 12, 2006, when he won his most recent championship.

The win also proved that Force’s the decision to add sidelined tuner cum driver Mike Neff to the tuning mix with Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly was a wise decision. His Mustang never seemed challenged  with consistent passes of 4.132, 4.120, and 4.125 to defeat Bob Bode, daughter Ashley Force Hood, and Jack Beckman.

Capps, the defending event champ who also won this race in 1998, powered his Ed McCulloch-tuned NAPA Auto Parts Dodge back to the final  the tough way, having to win without lane choice in round one, where he beat Jim head, then beating former champ Cruz Pedregon, who had upset low qualifier and defending season champ Robert Hight in round one. Capps reached the final, the 60th Funny Car of his career, with a semifinal triumph over Bob Tasca III after a heroic thrash to repair a broken rear end. The car had to be transported back to the trailer on a flatbed, but with help from teammate matt Hagan’s DieHard crew, they had the rear end and a new engine block installed in just 35 minutes.

Larry Dixon

Dixon’s victory, scored on a 3.80, 316.60 to 3.84, 310.05 over defending event champ Doug Kalitta, was his 49th career win, tying him with his former car owner, Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, for eighth place among all Pro winners and 14th among all NHRA drivers. Dixon previously had won the Winternationals in 1998 and back-to-back in 2002 and 2003.

Dixon, who lost his low qualifying berth to Cory McClenathan in Saturday’s final qualifying session, looked nearly flawless en route to the final round, chalking up low e.t. of eliminations at 3.799 in round one to defeat Steve Chrisman, followed by a 3.85 conquest of longtime rival Brandon Bernstein. Dixon’s semifinal bash with Tony Schumacher, to whom he lost the season championship last year by a mere two points, was another legendary clash between the two modern-day Top Fuel titans. They ran identical e.t.s and identical speeds – 3.836s and 317.05s a pair – and it was only Dixon’s .068 to .085 reaction-time edge that made the difference 999 feet later.

Kalitta, who last year joined his uncle, Connie (1967), and cousin, Scott (2005), as Winternationals Top Fuel champs, raced his way back to the money round again, the 59th of his career, by overcoming first-round engine woes that slowed him to a 4.51, but the Jim Oberhofer-led crew responded with passes of 3.92 and 3.84 to defeat tire-smoking Troy Buff and No. 1 qualifier McClenathan.

Mike Edwards

Twenty-nine years after winning his first Winternationals title in Modified elimination, Edwards, frustrated twice by Summit teammates Greg Anderson (2006) and Jason Line (2009), scored his first Winternationals Pro Stock title by besting Anderson, 6.57, 210.47 to 6.61, 209.62. Anderson got the holeshot, .031 to .069, but Edwards ran him down to win his 21st Pro Stock Wally by just .003-second.

Prior to beating Anderson, Edwards’ Penhall/Interstate/K&N Pontiac was the quickest car in all four qualifying sessions, and had low e.t. of every preliminary round as he motored past Justin Humphreys, Greg Stanfield, and Allen Johnson with blasts of 6.604, 6.610, and 6.615 to reach the final, his 40th in the class. It’s the second time that Edwards has racked up the maximum points available at a race; the first was in Richmond, Va., late last year.

Anderson continued his Pomona love affair by reaching the final. He won the 2009 season finale here, won the Winternationals three straight years from 2006-2008 and four times overall, and at this race last year reset the national record, and reached the final again, the 89th of his career, with his Summit Pontiac after running 6.608 in round one in a rematch with Kurt Johnson of the last event here, then moved on to beat good-looking rookie Shane Gray with a 6.626 and ended the great debut of Larry Morgan’s new Lucas Oil Mustang in the semifinals with a 6.632.

The Alcohol Dragster final pitted the runners-up from the last two years, and ’09’s second-place finisher Chris Demke finished first this time with a 5.33 victory over 2008 runner-up Joey Severence. Sean O’Bannon handed Doug Gordon his second straight Alcohol Funny Car Winternationals runner-up, beating the 2003 champ in the final, 5.54 to 5.64.

A pair of former Winternationals Comp champs battled for their second wins in a rematch of their 2006 final here, and the outcome was the same as Lou Ficco Jr. collected the win when 2004 Winternationals champ Dean Carter went -.117 red. In Super Stock, 2003 Winternationals champ Jeff Lane scored again, handing reigning world champ Jimmy DeFrank Jr. his fourth straight Winternationals final-round loss while Brad Burton defeated Ryan McClanahan for Stock honors.

Kevin Wright got a bye run in the Super Comp final when 2003 Super Gas runner-up Ed Olpin’s dragster wouldn’t fire in the final. The guy who beat Olpin in that 2003 final, Brad Pierce, also won his second Winternationals title by beating former world champ Jimmy Lewis in the Super Gas final.

Hey Race fans....  What a way for the Daytona 500 to go about and to finish in the start of this long 36 race long season.  We got to experience our 1st multi overdrive session in Nascar which the governing bodies implemented before the start of the season with all the other new rules and changes they were bringing to the table for the start of the 2010 Nascar Season.  A stop and go session 2 times for the track repairs held the field at bay for close to 2 hours as Nascar and Track Officials assested and made the what seemed to be the band aid on a artearial wound twice with a quick patch and go the 1st time and a epoxy patch in the second stop of the race...  The Officals were comfortable after the 2nd patch work seemed to hold for the final laps of the race and fans would see a full 500 miles race.    Jamie McMurray who now drives for DEI/Ganassi after a bump from Roush Racing driving a Ford Fusion who's team went from 5 teams to the new Nascar limit of 4 teams, McMurray did have some success with Roush and his credentals were good enough  to get him a new ride with another team.  Jaime took over for Martin Truex Jr. in the Bass Pro Shops # 1 Chevy who left to drive for Micheal Waltrip Racing in what seemed to be the biggest offseason move by free agent drivers to drive the #56 Toyota there in place of Micheal who is set to run a very limited schedule.  Jaime surprised all the masses and took this years Daytona 500 after holding off a late surge from Dale Jr. rallying from 10th with shades of his Dad Dale Sr. looking down from above on the last lap in the 2nd Overdrive session.  Jaime was tearful in his post race speech and bowed to the Daytona Logo amassed on the front stretch of the Superspeedway after getting the checkered flag and donning a bunch of doughnuts and celebrating in Victory Lane.   What a shame about all the track repairs and the stop and go sessions to give the drivers a break and cars and engines as well.  Jimmie Johnson had trouble right before the yellow flag and losing a right front tire.  Possibly his car slid across the spot in turns 1 and 2 where the ashfalt seemed to give way and cause both red flags.  Jimmie made repairs and got back out to only throw out a rear gear in the up and closing laps of the race.  A few cautions here and there for some beating and banging to cause a few cars to call it a day.  Bill Elliott ended up bumping into Rookie of the Year Joey Logano and finishing off both there days.  But there was no big one as what myself and alot of fans have come to expect in this 500 mile restrictor plate race.  Nascar did also apply another fishfin to the left rear of the car to prevent cars from getting airborne if they did get sideways and crash.  The restrictor plate was opened up 1/64 of a inch more this year to allow another 10-12 horsepower to the cars.  Beating and banging they did, but the big one eluded us this year for the 500.  Praise and joy to Jaime McMurray for winning the race.  Now you have opened my eyes to see what you will do for the rest of the year with the new team and new ride.  Awesome job Jaime...  You are the 2010 Daytona 500 Winner....

Hey Sports Fans...  

          Just want to let everyone know Bleacher Brothers is now offically on Internet Radio with this month's Contributor of the Month --  Ronnie G.....   I have recently joined the radio staff at Galaxy Net Radio to do a sports show sponsored in part by Bleacher Brothers to get us out to the world!!!!...  Be sure to tune in and spend your Monday Sports Drive with Ronnie G. from 3-6pm..  

http://www.glxe.net   <--- Click this link here!!!

I will be covering all the sports you can possibly handle in 3 hours ...   I will be featuring guest appearances by fellow staff members and fans alike.  So be sure to tune in on Mondays for the Monday Sports Drive....

Be Sure to Email me all your questions and comments to my email in the photo....!!!!

come join in the fun...  visit the site listed, create a screen name and lets chat about some sports...

www.justin.tv/bleacherbrothers

Look forward to all who stop in..

Live now from 9pm - 11pm EST...

Please shoot me a message on here or on facebook.  I am going to be doing a webcast on Tuesday night for you to explain how the webcast site works and what you need to know to do your own shows...

I will be doing this around 10pm EST...  for everyone, or will work around your schedule if you can not make it Tuesday night...  

Thanks..

Ronnie

Hey Sports Fans,

I am here to let you know that I have created a new webcast channel on the website I use for when I am do my music recording and production.  BleacherBrothers will be doing their 1st live webcast/podcast on the internet this coming week on Wends. night around 9pm est.   This site will feature all and any of our staff and contributors to do weekly or daily shows featuring the days sports action and the topics of sports that the staff covers .  When we are not live, the site will show any and all sports movies and rebroadcasts of our live shows as well.  This is an experimental basis trial and I am hoping that this will help our site grow into the biggest sports site to hit the internet.   So be sure to stop in on Wends. night and check it out...   

ALSO WHEN YOU CHECK OUT THE SITE, BE SURE TO CREATE A SCREEN NAME AND CHAT WITH THE HOSTS...

www.justin.tv/bleacherbrothers

Look forward to seeing everyone there!!!!

Ronnie G.

LAKEWOOD -- A retired Brick high school football coach is expected to coach Lakewood High School's football team, according to a statement released by the school superintendent. Warren Wolf, New Jersey's second-winningest coach with a record of 361-122-11 in 51 seasons, retired in 2008.  He was and has been the face of Brick Dragons Football program now going cross town to once again grace the sidelines.  

http://www.app.com/article/20100124/NEWS/100124039/Warren-Wolf-appears-headed-for-Lakewood

This is sad news to all in Brick!!!!

Today I ventured out to the 25th Annual Len Sammons Auto Expo in Oaks PA.  Was about a 35 minute drive from the burbs and a moderate priced $17 a person to get in.  I wasn't worried.  Today's event was going to be eventful regardless if all announced guest and talent didn't show up.  The bill was stacked to the hilt.  The main feature was NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose.  He is the transplant from Tasmania Australia to the ranks of the guys on the main Sprint Circuit like 4 time champ Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and of course the face of NASCAR Dale Jr.  He faired quite well in the 2009 season with better than 10 top 10 finishes and a few in the top 5 on the road courses where he has mastered back home down under.  Marcos doesn't drive for the big name teams in the sport like Joe Gibbs Racing or Hendricks and Roush.  No Ambrose drives for former NBA star turned ESPN NASCAR annalist Brad Daughtry.  Yes the big man is a car owner in this sport of racing.  We arrived at a point were there was a brief chat on stage with Marcos and crew chief Frank Kerr.  There was a procession of people in line to get a chance to get some memorabilia signed by both and a chance for even a photograph.  There was probably 30 chairs in a row and we were 14 deep.  He was there for 2 hours to sign.  We waited around for our chance which I was looking forward to for the fact I decided to go with the Tasmanian Devil after the finish of the 2009 Season.  So I had a few things ready at hand.  Only one problem I ran into.  I didn't think to check the batteries in any of my cameras I brought to the event for photos.  I did get a few shots and was happy about that.  I sat for about an hour and a half and talked with a guy named Rob who was 62.  He was telling me about years past and the races he had been to and to the left a kid telling me that one of his relatives was related to someone I don't remember.  Something caught my eye when it came time to chat with Marcos and Frank.  The usher was trying to be rude to the people in front of us because of the time they were taking.  I mean the guy still had plenty of time for everyone and Marcos told her to ease off.  I was impressed with this.  Cool guy.  I tell you what, my girlfriend was in awe of his cool Aussie accent.  Cool guy...  I don't think I can say that enough.  I will be proud to root for him this year.  Go Taz Man Go!!!  

      After the eternity of waiting, we ventured out to see the rest of the show.  I ran into NHRA Top Fuel great Morgan Lucas.  I was a bit disappointed in the lack of fans looking for him to get autographs and a chance to meet him.  I know he is in a protective suit strapped into a rail with 8000 horses strapped down behind his back launching him to 300 mph + in 1000 feet.  Anyone want to take a ride..???  I have always had a passion for drag racing from the first time watching NHRA coverage on the old TNN network with my Dad.  Then going to Englishtown Raceway Park in Jersey on a few summer occasions.  So I took the opportunity for a extended visit and a photo.  I googled 2 photos the night before and had them ready for him to sign.  He noticed the BleacherBrother Pass I made as well.  I told him about the site and he was impressed with what we are set out to do.  Maybe he will read this and leave a comment.  YOUR A COOL GUY MORGAN!!!  lol...  I told him about my first experience with drag racing and told me he has a friend in NJ who was at the same race I was at.  He did sign a photo for our site so I was totally stoked.  I how maybe to get to Englishtown this year and see how his season is going.  We ventured on and grabbed a cold beer and went deeper into the expo.  Cars and cars everywhere.  Displays of anything racing.  Something for everyone.  I saw Bobby Allison who is a NASCAR Legend himself.  Then came upon Davey Sammons from Bordentown NJ.  This 21 year old kid drives the cars I have seen on SpeedTV late at night.   These things have these sick looking wings and fling around the corner with such grace and force its crazy.  I looked at this kid who was about my size and build (go figure) and looked at the cockpit of his bad machine.  I looked at him and looked inside and asked him how in the world does he get in.  He started explaining and I started to climb in.  I managed to rearrange this way and that way head up through here left foot over there and I was in.  WOW.  Snug fit but cozy in a sense.  I was in a sitting position like I was at the dinner table.  OK Ok.  It was like sitting proper on the can.  Leave it at that.  The steering wheel was like I was driving a 18 Wheeler but 1/4 of the size and just enough from my gut.  I thought for a second about slamming on the gas and winging this thing into the corner and kicking up some serious dirt.  But I am glad I wasn't on the track.  I don't think I could do it for 10 soild laps.  This kid has some impressive credentials.  Maybe he might make it big.  

           We ended the day after going up one isle and down another checking out everything and spending less than $100 with getting in and additional memorabilia.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon waiting in anticipation for the upcoming NASCAR and racing season in a whole.  LET GO RACING BOYS!!

Nascar season is just a few weeks away.  Events leading up to this year's Daytona 500 and the season its self have been taking place at tracks this week in all the series.  Big news from all 3 series have been flying around.  Biggest news this week is that the spolier will be back on the car in the main Sprint Cup Series.  We have been stuck with the COT (car of tomorrow) with the wing they implemented a few years ago.   NASCAR issued a bulletin to Cup team owners Friday.  On next week's Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, NASCAR is expected to announce possible changes to bump-drafting and out-of-bounds rules at Daytona and Talladega and possibly a larger restrictor plate for Speedweeks, but right now the spoiler is a given.  This to me has been a long time coming.  Now if they can just do something at the big tracks, Daytona and Talladega with the restrictor plates and get some separation between the cars that these tracks, maybe we could avoid the big ones.  Yes I do enjoy a good mashup, but seeing Carl Edwards do the Talladega roll on the last lap last year and doing his best Ricky Bobby wasnt something I wanted to see.  Just like Joey Logano did in Dover at the smaller Monster Mile in September..  I love a good race, but seeing a car flip 20 times is not what i want to see.   Another point is the bump drafting and double yellow lines.  First off, racing is rubbing... Just the way it has been since the start, and the yellow line stuff, well, make a line and say no passing below it.  Most of these lines are on the edge of the grass, and i dont think someone wants to make a pass in the grass at 170+.  I know Dale Sr. had the so called pass in the grass, but this is a whole new animal in NASCAR.  Make the rules and stick to them.  Thats what I say...  I am so pumped and looking forward to all the new faces and changes this year in NASCAR, mainly to see what INDY Series driver Danica Patrick does this year driving for Dale Jr.  Now onto the countdown to green at Daytona on Feb. 14....  BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY... LETS GO RACIN' BOYS!!!