I'll start with the bad news first: It looks like starting middle linebacker Stuart Bradley is going to be out for the season with a torn ACL. After losing Brian Dawkins in the offseason and Jim Johnson to cancer, this is probably the worst news the Eagles could have gotten in regards to their defense. Bradley had really started to step into his own last year, and he was going to be looked at as the leader on defense this year. Without him in there, things are going to get a lot more interesting, since the Eagles don't exactly have the best depth at middle linebacker.
I have a feeling this injury is going to hurt a lot more than people are going to let on. Bradley was evolving into a key cob of the defense, and without him and Dawkins out there, it's hard to see a leader. The middle linebacker is supposed to be the quarterback of the defense, and now who are the Eagles going to turn to? Joe Mays, Tracy White or Tank Daniels? None of those guys give me the same feeling that Bradley did. I just hope they can learn the system in time for the regular season. If there is one good thing to this whole mess, it's that it happened early in training camp, so the backups can learn their new parts better.
In better news, the Eagles and first round pick Jeremy Maclin have agreed to a five year contract, according to the National Football Post. Maclin needs to get out on the field ASAP, and getting this deal done can only help him in being ready for the start of the season. The Eagles, and I'm guessing most of their fans, have high hopes for Maclin this year. Getting him signed and ready to play is the best thing that could happen. Donovan needs to get a rhythm going with him, and DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis have to learn what it's like to have Maclin playing alongside them. It doesn't take away from the Bradley injury, but it at least makes the offense more frightening.
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