Source: Bradley has torn ACL
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Source: Bradley has torn ACL
Bob Brookover and Jeff McLane
Eagles middle linebacker Stewart Bradley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during last night's Flight Night! practice at Lincoln Financial Field, according to a source close to Bradley. The injury will more than likely shelve the third-year pro for the entire season.
The team reported the injury after the practice at the Linc and said Bradley would undergo an MRI examination this morning. The MRI revealed a tear in Bradley's knee.
WIP's Howard Eskin first reported the news.
Bradley appeared healthy during training camp. But he had spent much of the break in between OTAs and camp rehabbing a pulled hamstring he suffered during minicamp. He sat out a practice in June, but returned the next day and said then that he was fine. According to the source close to Bradley, the injury was much worse than he and the team let on.
With Bradley done for the season, the top two candidates to replace him are second-year linebacker Joe Mays and veteran Omar Gaither. Mays, a sixth-round selection last year out of North Dakota State, played in just two games as a rookie, but he is currently second on the depth chart at middle linebacker.
Gaither, the Eagles' starting weakside linebacker at the start of last season, was replaced as the starter by Akeem Jordan in the 11th game of last season. Jordan started the final six regular-season games and all three of the Eagles' playoff games. Gaither, a fifth-round pick in 2005, started 15 of 16 games at middle linebacker during the 2007 season.
Bradley's injury will no doubt rekindle discussions about the risks of full-contact practices during training camp. The Eagles hit more than most teams in the NFL and coach Andy Reid is a firm believer that it's necessary to prepare the players for the season.
That's a loss...time for Omar to step up. Glad we've got a proven starter in reserve.— tjc- "Bradley's injury will no doubt rekindle discussions about the risks of full-contact practices during training camp." He did it during a NON-CONTACT drill...he was running, turned and went down...NO CONTACT AT ALL!!!— TheLlama
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- Now that's a great start to the season!— Centanni28
- Now he can spend more time being a Sexy Single— The Selector
- At least there is depth at the position.— mikechris
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- Cue up the lame excuses for another season of failure. Cry, Eagles, Cry— UncleEddie
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- Philthy is also an idiot.— mikeyboy
- bradley sucked, actually all our linebackers suck— nmr82
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- Tom, see http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/sexy_singles/— 93phils
- We're f*cked. He was one of the best players on the team and the leader of the defense.— Bob from SW
- ya he was a starter because the other guys are 'quicker and better than him'. Please. this is a big blow to the defense, let's hope Mays can cover the tight end, cause Gaither couldn't. There's a reason why he's a backup...— ag
- Tough loss!.....heard a few discussions on DNL that Stewy was due for a Pro Bowl season...this sux— LongtimeFan3
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- I hate to see any player hurt. Non-contact? what da?— Bigbadrookie
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- Kolb won't see playing time at all this seasson. McNabb will lead the Eagles into the Playoffs. Stop bashing McNabb! lonewolf--go back to the lonestar state where your Cowgirls play.
- IDK what they should do. Maybe they could move Gocong to the Middle and make Omar the weakside? I like Gocong but I'm not sure if he's a good pass cover guy.— krajj00
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- this is what sucks about football. everything seems lined up for your team to go all the way and then everybody gets hurt. one more serious injury to a starter and i'm out...— pbowers
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- wow. philthymillionaire just does not get it. if you ask most GMs, scouts they would probably all agree bradley is one of the most unheralded, up and coming stars at the MLB position. Injuries aside you could have easily seen him as a pro bowler in years to come. btw, its pretty hard to have a top 5 NFL defense with a MLB that sucks or, "can't cover your grandmother." hopefully he can stage a playoff comeback? hopefully this "source" is innaccurate? urghhh either way, philthy, get outta here.— bumbaca90
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- I think I'm going to throw up..— McPuke5
- cant wait for Flight Night 2010!!!— mdelrossi1
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- i can't believe i'm reading bradley is slow and couldn't cover tight ends. this guy was the best middle linebacker the eagles had since byron evans. you want to talk slow talk trotter or omar gaither. joe mays is a tackling machine but real short for pass coverage. the new defensive coach must come up with something new.— JACK V
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- Some teams are just reporting to camp and Eagles already have question mark injuries.— wrblithe
- phlthy, if your brain was turned into cotton, there wouldn't be enough to make a tampon for a fly.— greenflyer
- The dark cloud of his injury has no silver lining, only a darker cloud lurking within: He has probably ruined his career also. The guy was part and parcel of the Iggles devensive resurgence last year and he will be sorely (pardon the lousy pun) missed. I've been a Joe Mays fan since he got here, but he needs to learn how to cover pass plays much better than he has. But he could stop a charging rhino through the five hole.— TBear
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- Wishing Bradley the best to recover completely. He had an ACL tear in college wonder if it is the same knee ? Does anyone know ? Omar is a good tackler, 5 - 7 yards downfield. Bradley will be missed particularly on goal line. The coaches will know who to get in there. Maybe Gocong ?— oldBird
- AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! At least there is time for coaches to react....— M60tanker
- If this happened in a non contact drill(just like what happened to Cornelius Ingram), anyone ever think that maybe these guys bodies were not meant to be so big?— scars73
philthy, I have covered your grandmother, rythmically.- Comment removed.
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That totally sucks!!! Argh!!!— kalina- Comment removed.
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- bradley woud have been an all pro— maximus
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- Do we still have the best roster?— bigphillydad
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- Wow filthy, it must be great to be a coward and act like a tough guy behind a computer. Filthy is obviously racist against white football players. He trolls the posts and spews hate against whites, cops, and republicans. If it was that piece of garbage Dhani Jones that got hurt, he would keep his bigoted mouth shut.— larrydallas
