Omar Gaither

It used to be that Omar Gaither didn't necessarily embrace his title as "Mr. Versatility. " For the Eagles linebacker, his flexibility became an impediment to his starting. Of course, it also made him indispensable. "Omar knows everything," Eagles coach Andy Reid said last week. "It's probably the reason why I've made the team since I've been here," said Gaither, who is entering his fifth season in Philadelphia. "Would you rather be a master of one or a jack of all trades?"

Omar Gaither is not trying to keep himself a secret. And it's hard to imagine that he would be able to keep one. The linebacker is one of the most vocal - and entertaining - players on the field at Eagles training camp at Lehigh, hardly abiding by a rookie code of silence. Blend in? Keep quiet? Act like a wallflower? Not Gaither. "I think the whole stadium knows what defense we're playing because he calls it in the huddle so loudly," said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

The Eagles are not pursuing their 15 free agents as NFL business resumes, and will almost certainly not bring any of them back, including starters such as linebacker Stewart Bradley and punter Sav Rocca and backup running back Jerome Harrison. Safety Quintin Mikell, long expected to depart, agreed to a deal Tuesday with the St. Louis Rams. Kicker David Akers also has been expected to leave ever since the Eagles drafted kicker Alex Henery in the fourth round. Other free agents expected to be allowed to depart include cornerback Dimitri Patterson, guards Nick Cole, Max Jean-Gilles and Reggie Wells, and linebackers Ernie Sims, Omar Gaither and Akeem Jordan.

When the Eagles' season comes to a merciful conclusion and the damage is assessed, the inspectors will find a few nicks and dents here and there in the defense but nothing unsightly. They'll also realize that Jim Johnson, suspected of losing his touch the last two seasons, has regained his stature as one of the game's top defensive coordinators. Of course, this won't appease Eagles fans, who must deal with an empty playoff calendar in January. But with two games remaining, including Sunday's contest against the Saints in New Orleans, this is about next season.

A NDREW DICE CLAY says he considers "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin "my Quentin Tarantino . " What the comedian means is that he hopes that Ellin's casting of him for a recurring role on the final season of the HBO series is the equivalent of what Tarantino casting John Travolta in "Pulp Fiction" did to kick-start Travolta's career. Dice, who headlines Atlantic City's Tropicana July 30, recorded two comedy specials at the Spectrum, and his former fiancee Eleanor Kerrigan is a South Philly native.

The Eagles signed two of their 2006 draft choices yesterday, the first two of the group of eight to sign. Omar Gaither, a linebacker who was the Birds' fifth-round choice out of Tennessee, signed a four-year deal, as did defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, a sixth-rounder from Southern Cal. No financial details of either contract were announced. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Gaither recorded 78 tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery last year. He was named to the all-Southeastern Conference second team for the second consecutive season.

The Eagles started nine different linebacker combinations in 14 games and then started two other games with two linebackers and three cornerbacks: at Carolina - Weakside: Jordan; Middle: Gaither; Strongside: Gocong New Orleans - Weakside: Jordan; Middle: Gaither; Strongside: Gocong Kansas City - Weakside: Jordan; Middle: Gaither; Strongside: Gocong Tampa Bay - Weakside: Jordan; Middle: Trotter; Strongside: Gocong at Oakland -...

The Eagles tendered contracts to two more restricted free agents on Thursday, securing rights to running back Jerome Harrison and punter Sav Rocca. If another team was to make an offer for Harrison the Eagles would receive a second-round draft pick if they chose not to match. They have the right of first refusal for Rocca but would receive no compensation if the punter were to sign with another team. On Wednesday, the Eagles tendered linebacker Stewart Bradley (second round)

Next weekend's draft will be the Eagles' sixth since Tom Heckert replaced Tom Modrak as the team's top scout in May 2001. Daily News sports writer Paul Domowitch looks at the first 5: 2002 Grade: A+ Picks: 8 Starters: 5 (CB Lito Sheppard, S Michael Lewis , CB Sheldon Brown, RB Brian Westbrook, DL Raheem Brock. ) Backups still with team: 0 2003 Grade: F Picks: 6 Starters: 1 (TE L.J. Smith) Backups still with team: 1 (DE Jerome McDougle) 2004 Grade: D Picks: 10 Starters: 2 (G Shawn Andrews, FB Thomas Tapeh)

Here's a look at the other linebackers on the Eagles' roster, including height, weight, college and years in the NFL: Omar Gaither, 6-2, 235 pounds, Tennessee, 4; the skinny: a former weakside starter; has most experience Joe Mays, 5-11, 246, North Dakota State, 2; the skinny: sixth-round pick last year; played in just two games Tank Daniels, 6-3 248, Harding, 4; the skinny: one of the Eagles' top contributors on special teams last...

Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley, Joe Mays, Akeem Jordan, Chris Gocong, Will Witherspoon, Jamar Chaney, Casey Matthews, Jeremiah Trotter 3.0 . . . DeMeco Ryans? Have the Eagles finally found, after five seasons of impostors, their savior at middle linebacker? After the Eagles bagged Ryans in a trade with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, reaction from the team's fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Much of the excitement has to do with Ryans, of course. But underneath it all has been the blue-collar city's desperation for a savior at the most blue-collar of positions.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Stewart Bradley's explanation of why he's in Arizona and not Philadelphia was not particularly complicated. Of course he enjoyed the Phoenix area's relative proximity to his hometown of Salt Lake City and he believed the Cardinals were close to winning. But there was also the issue of years and dollars, which is often the determining factor for a free agent. Bradley, a 28-year-old linebacker who was once a key part of the Eagles' defense, signed a 5-year, $30 million contract with the Cardinals in July.

The Eagles are not pursuing their 15 free agents as NFL business resumes, and will almost certainly not bring any of them back, including starters such as linebacker Stewart Bradley and punter Sav Rocca and backup running back Jerome Harrison. Safety Quintin Mikell, long expected to depart, agreed to a deal Tuesday with the St. Louis Rams. Kicker David Akers also has been expected to leave ever since the Eagles drafted kicker Alex Henery in the fourth round. Other free agents expected to be allowed to depart include cornerback Dimitri Patterson, guards Nick Cole, Max Jean-Gilles and Reggie Wells, and linebackers Ernie Sims, Omar Gaither and Akeem Jordan.

NFL TEAMS did not get that widely reported 72-hour period to try to sign their own pending free agents, when the collective bargaining agreement finally ended the 136-day NFL lockout Monday. If a Philadelphia Inquirer report yesterday is correct, the Eagles won't miss it. The Inquirer reported the Birds will not bring back any of their 15 free agents. Most of them weren't expected back, but it is at least a little surprising that the Eagles reportedly have no interest in retaining former starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley or punter Sav Rocca, whose 37.6-yard career net average is the highest in franchise history among punters with at least 100 punts.

IRST THINGS FIRST. Yes, if the NFLPA finally ratifies the new labor agreement today, the league year and free agency should start on Saturday, which is when the Eagles apparently would be free to trade Kevin Kolb. But before you get too wrapped up in the merits of the Eagles' signing cornerback Johnathan Joseph vs., say, defensive end Charles Johnson, remember this: Teams will have 72 hours to sign their own free agents before the jamboree begins. There is no way of knowing exactly who will still be available at the end of that period.

A NDREW DICE CLAY says he considers "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin "my Quentin Tarantino . " What the comedian means is that he hopes that Ellin's casting of him for a recurring role on the final season of the HBO series is the equivalent of what Tarantino casting John Travolta in "Pulp Fiction" did to kick-start Travolta's career. Dice, who headlines Atlantic City's Tropicana July 30, recorded two comedy specials at the Spectrum, and his former fiancee Eleanor Kerrigan is a South Philly native.

The Eagles added 11 young players over the three-day NFL draft, but they still emerged without answers for two of their biggest needs: starting cornerback and defensive line. After taking eight players Saturday - starting with Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews and Nebraska kicker Alex Henery - the Eagles came away with a draft class that adds depth at safety, linebacker, offensive line, and running back and probably turns the page on David Akers' long tenure at kicker. They filled one glaring need in the first round by selecting guard Danny Watkins.

The Eagles added 11 young players over the three-day NFL Draft, but still emerged without answers for two of their biggest needs: starting cornerback and defensive line. After taking eight players Saturday - starting with Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews and Nebraska kicker Alex Henery - the Eagles came away with a draft class that adds depth at safety, linebacker, offensive line and running back and probably turns the page on David Akers' long tenure at kicker. They filled one glaring need in the first round by selecting guard Danny Watkins.

The Eagles tendered contracts to two more restricted free agents on Thursday, securing rights to running back Jerome Harrison and punter Sav Rocca. If another team was to make an offer for Harrison the Eagles would receive a second-round draft pick if they chose not to match. They have the right of first refusal for Rocca but would receive no compensation if the punter were to sign with another team. On Wednesday, the Eagles tendered linebacker Stewart Bradley (second round)

DALLAS - Asante Samuel voiced perhaps the same words that fans and Eagles watchers across the country uttered when he was informed that Juan Castillo was his new defensive coordinator. "The offensive line coach?" the Eagles cornerback said. Samuel was not the only Eagle to be shocked by a move that could rival the decision to sign Michael Vick for an organization often known for its deliberate style. Center Mike McGlynn was home in Ohio when a reporter told him that Castillo was no longer his position coach and now the leader of the Eagles' defense.