Reid Explains How Reporters Broke Pact

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid spoke with "Good Day Philadelphia" on Tuesday morning live from training camp at Lehigh University.

During the interview, Reid explained his response to reporters at Monday's news conference about the injury to starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley.

After news had leaked of Bradley's likely season-ending ACL tear, Reid criticized reporters for what he called breaking a pact made when he came to the Eagles in 1999.

Fox 29's Steve Keeley asked Reid why he so harshly came down on reporters – was it because he was upset about losing a key leader on defense, or was he just trying to get things set for the season?

"Well, I think with any phase of your life there have to be rules and regulations," Reid began. "And so I've put some rules out not only to help the media but to help the players, keep the media away from them and then try to give the media a little more detail than what they might get from a player, you know, in my press conference. I always start off with the injuries. I don't hide the injuries from them. If it's a serious injury, I'm going to ring out Rick Burkholder to talk to them – which nobody else does in the National Football League – so that they get very accurate information.

"And so, I've tried to put an effort forward there, and I just ask in return that the media does the same," the coach said. "Just stay away from the players, man. Let the players do their thing. Let them get their rehab. But when a player is in rehab, having his knee checked or rehabbing his knee and the media is calling every two seconds, then that's a problem – that's a problem to me. They've gone against that pact that I made with them. So, I understand it's a very competitive world. But somewhere there have to be rules."

Despite Brian Dawkins's offseason free-agent departure, the death of longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson last week and now the injury to on-field signal-caller Stewart, Reid downplayed concerns about loss of leadership on the defensive side of the ball.

"Well, Stewart wasn't the only leader out there. Quintin Mikell is a good leader. Sheldon Brown, who's been around here a long time, is a good leader. You've got a couple of defensive linemen, Juqua Parker and (Broderick) Bunkley that are leaders, Darren Howard. And then these two linebackers might be your two best leaders in Mays and Omar. Both of them are vocal guys, they know the defense. They're not afraid to challenge people."

Why was Joe Mays getting first-squad reps ahead of Omar Gaither at middle linebacker Monday at camp?

"Well, they're both going to play," Reid said. "And Joe Mays is just a little bit bigger, and we'll see how he does. You know, we'll see how it works out. I know Omar Gaither can get in there and play. And Joe Mays has shown us some potential. But both of them will be in there playing in some role."

As for Monday night's signing of first-round draft pick Jeremy Maclin after missing more than a week of time in camp, Reid said, "Well, he's missed time."

He added about the wide receiver, "It's good that he signed. That's a positive. But at the same time now he's going to be playing the catch-up game. So, we'll see how he does. And I don't know what kind of shape he's in. I can't tell you that until he gets here. And then the mental part of it, how much he retains from the minicamp."

On a personal note, Reid said he has now lost 80 pounds since March.

"It's like losing a small child, that's what I've lost. But I've got to lose another one," he joked. "So, I've got to make it through Christmas, and if I make it through Christmas we'll be all right."