IN BRIEF
PHILADELPHIA — Brian Westbrook was released Tuesday by the Philadelphia Eagles, ending an often-dynamic eight-year run that was marred by various injuries.
A former All-Pro, the 5-foot-10 Westbrook led the league in yards from scrimmage in 2007 with 2,104. He rushed for 1,333 yards and accounted for 12 touchdowns that season.
But he spent much of last season on the sidelines. Westbrook missed eight games with a pair of concussions and an ankle injury. Westbrook had only two touchdowns in 2009.
He was due $7.25 million next season.
LOCK HAVEN — Slippery Rock University pole vaulter Jen Hansen was named PSAC Field Athlete of the Week for her performance Saturday at Kent State University.Hansen posted her season-best clearance of 3.90 meters and her performance is nearly 18 inches better than the second-best PSAC mark.
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee won his 903rd career game Tuesday night, moving past Hall of Famer Bob Knight to become the winningest men's coach in NCAA history.The 68-year-old Magee got the record with a 76-65 victory over Goldey-Beacom College. Magee has won all 903 games over a 43-year career with the tiny Division II Rams.Knight won 902 games and three national championships in a 42-year career with Army, Indiana and Texas Tech. Northern State coach Don Meyer, who announced his retirement Monday, has 922 victories between the NAIA and NCAA.
SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Former NBA star Jayson Williams was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting a hired limo driver in 2002, ending an eight-year legal odyssey by tearfully apologizing to the victim's family. He will be eligible for parole in 18 months.Williams, avoiding a retrial on a reckless manslaughter count that deadlocked the jury at his 2004 trial, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated assault in the death of Costas Christofi on Feb. 14, 2002. At the same 2004 trial, he was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter but convicted on four counts of covering up the shooting.The sentences on the assault and cover-up counts will run concurrently. State Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman went along with a plea agreement that spelled out the five-year prison sentence and the potential for Williams to be released as early as summer 2011.
NEW YORK — NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith sent a memo to players and their agents Tuesday, telling them it is likely no new collective bargaining agreement will be reached and the upcoming season will be played without a salary cap.In the memo, Smith outlined the union's talks with the league, but made it clear he doesn't think a new deal will occur before the March 5 deadline — giving the NFL its first uncapped season since 1993.
