Omar Gaither was the starting middle linebacker in the 2007 season. Joe Mays was the backup middle linebacker last year. He held that same post as this year's training camp commenced. Gaither entered this camp with the hope that he could win back the weakside linebacker job that he lost in the middle of last season to Akeem Jordan.
Head coach Andy Reid expressed confidence in either player to play the middle linebacker spot in the absence of Stewart Bradley. We know that Bradley suffered a knee injury on Sunday night. As to the severity and length of absence, there has been no official word from the Eagles. Mays took the reps with the first-team defense at middle linebacker on Monday.
"You have two guys that can do a good job, Mays and Omar," Reid said. "We'll look at that as we go down the road here."
Reid noted that right now he is focused on working in Gaither to battle Jordan at the weakside linebacker spot.
"I think both of them (Mays and Gaither) are effective and can be effective," Reid said. "Omar's competing at the WILL linebacker spot right now. He'll take some reps at the middle as he's been."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 4:17 p.m., August 3
