MAYS AT A GLANCE:
• A fifth-year linebacker who played 47 career regular-season games (22 starts) and three playoff contests (2 starts) with Denver (2010-12) and Philadelphia (2008-09), totaling 112 tackles (93 solo) on defense and 29 stops on special teams during his first five NFL seasons.
• Opened a career-best 12 games for the Broncos in 2011 and finished third on the club with 74 tackles (63 solo) in addition to tying for most tackles on the team (15) in his two postseason starts.
• Started five games in his first season with the Broncos in 2010 and contributed 31 tackles (26 solo) on defense along with nine tackles on special teams.
• Ranked third on the Eagles with a career-best 19 special-teams tackles in 2009.
• Played two games for Philadelphia as a rookie in 2008, seeing time at the backup ‘Mike’ linebacker position.
• Earned Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors for Division I-AA North Dakota State as a senior in 2007 after posting 90 tackles and nine sacks for the Bison.
• Joined the Broncos on July 31, 2010, in a trade with Philadelphia that sent running back J.J. Arrington to the Eagles.
• Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
MAYS AT A GLANCE:
• A fifth-year linebacker who played 47 career regular-season games (22 starts) and three playoff contests (2 starts) with Denver (2010-12) and Philadelphia (2008-09), totaling 112 tackles (93 solo) on defense and 29 stops on special teams during his first five NFL seasons.
• Opened a career-best 12 games for the Broncos in 2011 and finished third on the club with 74 tackles (63 solo) in addition to tying for most tackles on the team (15) in his two postseason starts.
• Started five games in his first season with the Broncos in 2010 and contributed 31 tackles (26 solo) on defense along with nine tackles on special teams.
• Ranked third on the Eagles with a career-best 19 special-teams tackles in 2009.
• Played two games for Philadelphia as a rookie in 2008, seeing time at the backup ‘Mike’ linebacker position.
• Earned Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors for Division I-AA North Dakota State as a senior in 2007 after posting 90 tackles and nine sacks for the Bison.
• Joined the Broncos on July 31, 2010, in a trade with Philadelphia that sent running back J.J. Arrington to the Eagles.
• Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Philadelphia as a draft choice 6/17/08; Traded to Denver 7/31/10; Placed on reserve/suspended list by Commissioner 9/25/12; Suspension lifted by Commissioner 10/1/12; Placed on injured reserve (ankle) by Denver 10/30/12.
Mays’ Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Tackles — 9, three times, last at New England, 10/7/12 (9 at New England, 1/14/12). Sacks — 0.5 vs. Pittsburgh, 9/9/12 (none). Sack yards — 3.5 vs. Pittsburgh, 9/9/12 (none). Interceptions — None (None). Interception return yards — None (None).
2012: Mays played six games (four starts) before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury... Registered his first career sack, splitting a takedown of Ben Roethlisberger with CB Chris Harris vs. Pit. (9/9)... Made a special-teams tackle at S.D. (10/16)... Placed on injured reserve on Oct. 30.
2011: Mays played all 16 regular-season games (12 starts) and finished third on the club with a career-high 74 tackles... Tied for the team lead with 15 tackles (9 solo) in two postseason starts... Matched his personal best with nine tackles (8 solo) vs. S.D. (10/9) and matched that total in Denver’s AFC Divisional Playoff Game at N.E. (1/14).
2010: Mays played a career-high 12 games (5 starts) at inside linebacker and totaled 31 tackles (26 solo) and one pass defensed for Denver after being acquired from Philadelphia in a trade at the beginning of training camp... Tied for third on the club with nine solo special-teams stops... Averaged six tackles per game in his five starts, including a career-best nine tackles (6 solo) at S.D. (11/22)... Placed on injured reserve (knee) on Dec. 5.
2009: Mays played 11 games (1 start) for Philadelphia and posted seven tackles (4 solo) on defense while ranking third on the Eagles with 19 special-teams stops... Set a career high with five special-teams tackles at S.D. (11/15)... Totaled four tackles (3 solo) and four special-teams stops at Atl. (12/6)... Forced a fumble on kickoff coverage at NYG (12/13)... Made two special-teams tackles in Philadelphia’s NFC Wild Card Game at Dal. (1/9).
2008: Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, Mays appeared in two games for the Eagles seeing time as the backup ‘Mike’ linebacker... Inactive for 14 regular-season games and three postseason contests.
COLLEGE: Mays played 43 games (31 starts) for North Dakota State University, where he tallied 285 tackles, including a school-record 159 solo stops, with 29.5 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks and three interceptions... Earned first-team Division I-AA honors and was named the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2007 after leading the Bison with a career-high 90 tackles, including nine tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
PERSONAL: Mays attended Hyde Park Career Academy in Chicago, Ill., where he earned first-team All-City honors as a senior after tallying 115 tackles, including 16 sacks, and two interceptions... Did not play football until his junior season of high school and went on to earn first-team all-conference honors during his final two prep seasons... Joseph Lamont Mays was born on July 6, 1985, in Chicago, Ill.
