Brian Westbrook Signs With The 49ers

The abrupt retirement of 49ers running back Glen Coffee meant the team was going to be forced to acquire another back before the end of the preseason. It just so happens that a high-profile one has been available for some time.

The team announced Monday that former Eagles running back had signed a one-year contract to join the 49ers.

While the timing wasn't a surprise - Westbrook had said he would be picking his new team by Monday - some observers expressed shock at the destination, as Westbrook had been linked most closely with the Redskins, Rams and Broncos. Just a few hours before the signing was announced by the 49ers, NFL.com's Jason La Canfora said he thought the Redskins were the team to beat in the Westbrook sweepstakes.

Perhaps that was true at the time, but the crisis brought on by the sudden departure of Coffee may have forced the 49ers to sweeten their deal just enough to land the back. Or the thought of playing for a potential playoff team was incentive enough.

According to La Canfora, Westbrook will earn a base salary of $1.25 million. By fulfilling performance incentives, he could earn as much as $2.5 million.

Brian Westbrook has been a free agent for nearly six months and he's inching closer to picking a team.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Westbrook is expected to pick a team by Monday.

The teams that have expressed interest include:

• Redskins
• Broncos
• Rams

He has visited all three teams at one point.

Westbrook has previously said his next team would have to "make sense financially."

Free agent running back Brian Westbrook is reportedly deciding between the Rams and Redskins, according to reports.

He recently told Matt Terl of the Redskins official site that the Redskins are a "great fit" for him but it has to "make sense financially as well."

Translation: I'm looking to get paid.

OK, maybe it's not that simple but Westbrook doesn't have a lot of options. If he's looking to continue his career and ultimately make more money, he should be looking for the team that best suits him, regardless of financials.

If there was any doubt Clinton Portis would be the Redskins starting running back heading into the season, Kyle Shanahan ended the speculation confirming Portis' role as the starter.

However, news on another aging running back is what we've been waiting. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan says there is no update on Brian Westbrook and possibly employment with the Redskins.

Shanahan did say that the Redskins have made him an offer.

A decision by Westbrook is expected "soon", according to reports. He's 30 years old and likely not interested in attending a lot of voluntary offseason work so delaying an announcement until after OTAs would be possible.

The Rams are the other team reportedly interested in his services.

Westbrook was released by the Eagles in March. Since then, he's visited the Rams, Redskins and Broncos. Reports have suggested the Broncos aren't serious contenders for him.

Free agent RB Brian Westbrook kicked off his free agency tour with a visit to St. Louis back in March. He didn't have any movement for nearly two months before visiting the Redskins and the Broncos in the same week.

What likely happened is he got some good news regarding his medical status. He ended the 2009 season prematurely due to concussions.

According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Rams are still in contact with Westbrook. La Canfora reports both the Redskins and Broncos are in play for his services as well.

However, Peter King of SI.com tweets he "doesn't expect" Denver to sign Westbrook.

So he can head to Washington and duke it out for time between Larry Johnson, Willie Parker and Clinton Portis or he could head to St. Louis and be the primary backup to workhorse Steven Jackson.

Brian Westbrook has now made two visits as a free agent. One to St. Louis to meet with the Rams and another to Washington to talk to the Redskins.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, we can soon make that three teams interested in Westbrook.

The Broncos will be hosting the 30-year old running back on Thursday.

Westbrook's visit with the Rams and the Redskins didn't generate much buzz but, according to Schefter, the Broncos are "serious" about Westbrook.

Free agent running back Brian Westbrook may have a new suitor: the Washington Redskins. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Westbrook has scheduled a visit with the team for Wednesday, in a curious move to say the least.

While Washington would meet Westbrook's criteria of playing for a non-dome team (out of consideration for his health), the Redskins already boast a glut of veteran (read: over the hill) running backs, from Clinton Portis to Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. New Skins head coach Mike Shanahan has been notorious for mixing and matching running backs, so it's possible Westbrook could find a niche as a third-down type back to limit the wear and tear on his fragile body, but still, it'd be a puzzling move for both sides.

Adding Westbrook would also add a layer of familiarity for newly acquired Skins quarterback Donovan McNabb, who teamed with Westbrook in Philadelphia to form one of the more potent offenses of the last half decade (when both were -- infrequently -- healthy at the same time).

And, as always, it's too bad for Dan Snyder that real life isn't like fantasy football, because a roster of Portis, Johnson, Parker and Westbrook would be a helluva team...in 2006.

For more on all things Washington Redskins, check out SB Nation's Hogs Haven.

The Eagles have confirmed they intend to release RB Brian Westbrook at the onset of free agency on March 5th. With other veterans with health issues already on the market, Westbrook’s road back may have just gotten a little tougher.

According to a report, Westbrook needs to “play and practice” on grass, not turf because of knee injuries sustained over the years.

If this report is accurate, then you can rule out two possible suitors — the Colts and Vikings, who both play in domes.

Westbrook is also dealing with concussion issues so the knee isn’t the only impediment on his road back.

Don’t look for him to be a hot commodity in the beginning hours of free agency.

For more on this news and all things Eagles, head over to Bleeding Green Nation.

Previous reports that Brian Westbrook has been released by the Eagles aren’t technically accurate: The team won’t cut ties with the running back until March 5th. This is to avoid salary cap issues, according to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. The team has granted him permission to speak with other possible suitors in the meantime.

But regardless, the point remains the same: Brian Westbrook won’t be playing for the Eagles next season.

Brian Westbrook started out his Eagles career as an underdog and an afterthought, so it's no surprise that as he evolved into one of the best running backs in football, the Phlly fans that supported him felt personally invested in his success. For a while there, he was their little secret. The 5'8, 180-pound running back that was quietly the team's most valuable player on offense. How can you not love a player like that?

Over at SB Nation's Eagles blog, Bleeding Green Nation, the instant reaction is sad but unsurprised, as the Eagles prepare to usher in a new era of stars:

Sad, although not entirely unexpected news. Westbrook was scheduled to make over $7 million next season, which is obviously something no team would considering paying for the level of production he's likely capable of. It's an unfortunate reality of the NFL. It's amazing to see both Brian Westbrook and LaDainian Tomlinson released within a day of one another, when just 2 or 3 seasons ago people were debating which of the two was the most dangerous all around back in the game... But that's the life of an NFL running back. Unlike a lot of positions, these guys don't generally have a slow decline.

There's no doubt that we've entered a new era of Eagles football. With Brian Dawkins last year and Brian Westbrook gone this year, two of the best players of the last generation of Eagles are gone. This leaves only Donovan McNabb & David Akers from the 2004 superbowl team.

For more on this news and all things Eagles, head over to Bleeding Green Nation.

Brian Westbrook will not be playing for the Eagles next season after the team decided to release the oft-injured running back on Tuesday.

Westbrook is 31 years-old and was due over $7 million by the Eagles had they kept him on the roster for next season, two factors that were clearly working against him sticking around in Philly.

This move may open the door for the team to bring in LaDainian Tomlinson, who was cut by the Chargers on Monday and could fill a similar role as Westbrook with his receiving ability out of the backfield.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, who was reportedly considering retirement following the conclusion of the 2009 season, told HDNet’s Dan Rather (via Sheil Kapadia of the Philadelphia Inquirer) that he will be returning to the field in 2010.

“I’m a hundred percent sure that I wouldn’t hang it up before [starting offseason training] unless something crazy happens,” Westbrook said. “My goal is to get back out there and play football again.”

Where he’s playing is the biggest question at this point. Due over $7 million in 2010, Westbrook has two things working against him: Age (he will be 31 before the season starts) and a history of concussions (two of them last year).

It’s hard to foresee a scenario in which Westbrook is back with the Eagles in his current contract.

Read more on the Westbrook situation at our Eagles blog, Bleeding Green Nation.