Sam Bradford is doing something he was never allowed to do under Chip Kelly. He's calling an audible.
With the Eagles now holding the No. 2 pick in Thursday's draft and saying they have every intention of selecting their quarterback of the future, Bradford says he's not so sure he wants to be included in that plan.
Back into the confessional: I'm a Bradford fan. I think he has the potential to be good. Very good.
I think he demonstrated that in the second half of last season as the quarterback seemed to take control of the Eagles' offense, as well as a leadership role in the locker room.
Bradford's numbers in those last seven games tell me he was playing as well as any quarterback in the league. Then again his detractors will tell you that Bradford has never led a team to the playoffs and continues to be haunted by two ACL injuries that made him miss almost two full seasons. While his knees held up last year with the Eagles, Bradford did miss games with concussion and shoulder issues.
Apparently the Eagles see it another way.
First, they declined to sign Bradford to a long-term deal, instead opting for a two-year pact that really amounts to a one-year, "show us what you can do" kind of offer. Don't feel too bad for Bradford. He still stands to make $18 million this year.
Then Howie Roseman went out and signed Chase Daniel to an eye-opening deal, supposedly to be Bradford's backup.
But the real heat got turned up last week when Roseman pulled off one final blockbuster coup in this interesting off-season, sending a treasure trove of draft picks to the Browns to move up and snag the No. 2 pick in the draft.
It is widely expected that, once the Los Angeles Rams take Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick, the Eagles will follow suit by taking Norther Dakota State wunderkind Carson Wentz at No. 2.
None of which is exactly putting a smile on Bradford's face.
After an initial report that he was "mad," another report surfaced early yesterday that he would be in camp for Eagles' workouts and determined to show the team what he can do.
That apparently changed.
Now his agent is indicating Bradford wants a trade, to be moved to a team that wants him and is planning on him as part of their future.
"He wants to go someplace and be there and know that he's going to stay as long as he plays well and his situation now in Philadelphia is different," agent Tom Condon said on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
Bradford has indicated he will not be attending this week's non-mandatory workouts.
As I said, I like Bradford. But he's making a mistake.
This is football. NFL football. Competition is part of the game. Bradford knew that when he signed that two-year deal. I think we can safely assume that Bradford and Condon surveyed the league and were not exactly overwhelmed with offers, thus settling for that two-year deal with the Birds.
Bottom line? You heard it here first: Sam Bradford holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy, wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.
I could be wrong. It will not be the first time. But I don't think the Eagles are going to want this kind of festering sore lingering and souring the locker room for first-year coach Doug Pederson.
Aside from everything else, football remains a business. A big business.
Bradford knows that. So do the Eagles.
My best guess is that we're about to see the end of the Sam Bradford Era, seemingly before it had a chance to really develop.
Comments