Cain Likes It Better In The Middle

Though he’s technically the top backup outside linebacker, Joe Cain will be allowed to have a little fun this week.

Back spasms knocked reserve middle linebacker Michael Barber out of service for a couple of days, so Cain got some work in the middle. Depending on how much Barber wants to test his back this week, Cain could see a lot of work Friday when the Seattle Seahawks play their exhibition finale on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“My preference is to play inside,” Cain said. “Outside linebacker can be a pain. You have to do so much more as an outside linebacker in a 4-3. You sometimes have to cover wide receivers. There is a lot more gray area on the outside. At middle linebacker, things are a little more back and white. That’s what I like about it.”

Cain’s role with the team falls into a gray area that works. He’s basically the top backup linebacker, regardless of location. With Barber being one of the most improved players in camp because of his run-stopping ability, Cain isn’t sure how much work he’ll get in the middle.

Inside or outside, Cain just wants to be on the field.

“I don’t like sitting on the bench,” Cain said. “I’d rather play. Everyone would rather play.”

After spending the 1992 season with the Seahawks, Cain, then a top backup, left to join the Chicago Bears. He had at least 108 tackles a season and finished his four-season stay there with 478.

“I thought I deserved to play more when I was here before,” said Cain, who had 13 starts in four seasons with the Seahawks. “I just wasn’t getting the opportunity. When the Bears signed Bryan Cox last year, they moved me back to the outside. I was having a good time in the middle.”

Players around the NFL are envious of any middle linebacker who plays behind a defensive tackle rotation as strong as Cortez Kennedy, Sam Adams and Dan Saleaumua. Being a middle linebacker in this scheme means he doesn’t often see one-on-one blocks from offensive guards and he gets plenty of opportunity to make tackles near the line of scrimmage.

Middle linebacker Dean Wells will work with the starters, but Cain is happy to get any chance to get in the middle of things.

“We’ll mix it up inside and see what happens,” Cain said.

Sick call

Fullback Oscar Gray needed rectal surgery that will sideline him for a couple of weeks.

Doctors found the problem to be worse than hemorrhoids. The injury may help him make the roster. The Seahawks were considering keeping only five running backs. But with backup fullback Reggie Brown practicing despite swelling in one knee, Gray becomes more valuable as a sixth running back.

If the Seahawks keep six running backs, they can keep only three tight ends.

The Seahawks wanted to hold linebacker Chad Brown out of practice because of an ankle injury. He wouldn’t let them. Brown pushed to get on the practice field and plans to play in the Bengal game.

Wide receiver Brian Blades won’t play Friday, but Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson understands that Blades will probably be able to play in the opener against the New York Jets. Halfback Chris Warren will play despite bruised ribs.

Erickson plans to play most of the starters about a quarter. Third-string quarterback Jon Kitna will play the entire second half.