The St. Louis Rams traded starting linebacker Will Witherspoon to Philadelphia for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth round pick in the 2010 draft.  Witherspoon spent the past three plus season with St. Louis where he had 116 and 102 tackles in his first two season respectively. He played in all 52 games for the Rams since coming over from Carolina where he spent four seasons.

Gibson was a guy the Eagles liked. He was a sixth round pick, but they just didn’t have any room for him on a roster full or receivers including former Tiger Jeremy Maclin. The Gibson stayed with the team, the Eagles liked what they saw from him. Rams GM Billy Devaney told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch their scouts have been keeping an eye on Gibson.

While wide receiver Donnie Avery is expected to play this week despite having a bruised hip, the Rams aren’t very deep at that position so this certainly provides an extra set of hands and in the long run could turn out to be a great move for the Rams.

Gibson came from Washington State and caught 12 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in four preseason games with the Eagles, but was inactive for their first five games.  Gibson told PhillyBurbs.com, ”I was definitely shocked about it, but I’m excited. The offense is very similar to what we run here, and I’m going to get an opportunity to play, which is really important to me. I’m looking forward to getting out there Sunday (vs. the Colts) and playing.”  Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmer spent the 1999 through 2008 seasons on Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia.