Editing Linebacker (section)

===Middle linebacker===
[[File:Football-Formation-LB.svg|thumb|A base [[4–3 defense]] with the middle linebacker in blue]]
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The '''middle'''  linebacker ('''MLB'''), sometimes called the "Mike" or "Mac",<ref name="BostonGlobe">{{cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Ben |date=September 9, 2012 |title=How Sam, Mike and Will Became Football Positions |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/09/08/how-sam-mike-and-will-became-football-positions/URHq2XoAdviKJYZLQfbKNK/story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |location=[[Boston]]}}</ref> is often referred to as the "[[quarterback]] of the defense".<ref>{{cite web |author=JW Nix |date=August 30, 2011 |title=NFL Defensive Quarterbacks: The 10 Best Middle Linebackers in Football Today |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/826932-nfl-defensive-quarterbacks-the-10-best-middle-linebackers-in-football-today |access-date=October 5, 2013 |publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the team, and in the NFL he is usually the defensive player with the electronic sideline communicator.  Middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles.

A [[Jack of all trades, master of none|jack-of-all-trades]], the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz (though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker), cover, spy the [[quarterback]], or even have a deep middle-of-the-field responsibility in the [[Tampa 2]] defense.