The Scores Report - The National Sports Blog » Sam Bradford Oklahoma

Report: Bradford won’t sign with the Rams before the draft

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:38:42 +0000

According to a report by ProFootballTalk.com, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford may refuse to sign a pre-draft contract with the Rams in order to gain more leverage in negotiations.

If Bradford declines to agree to terms before being picked, and if the Rams ultimately don’t select him, Bradford would slide to the Redskins at No. 4, at worst. (He also could end up going second or third, if a team that needs a quarterback moves up.) Operating from the four hole, Bradford likely would then attempt to invoke the so-called “quarterback premium” in the hopes of getting more than the first overall pick, just as Matt Ryan did from the third spot two years ago.

If the Rams pick Bradford without a contract in place, the leverage then flips to the player, with the Rams compelled to get the guy signed in the hopes of justifying the pick and turning around a franchise that seems far longer than a decade removed from a Super Bowl win.

It’s important to keep in mind that PFT.com never cites their sources, so take this report with a grain of salt. They’re hit and miss with their reports, but since I’m dying for anything football-related, I’ll allow myself to get sucked into their vortex for a report like this.

If Bradford wants to start next season, the best thing for him to do is sign a pre-draft contract. That would ensure that he wouldn’t hold out and he would be in camp on time. If he does choose not to sign, then there’s a chance the Rams will pass on him and then he’ll risk losing a little bit of money by falling in the top 5. Either that, or the Rams will still draft him and then a holdout could ensue.

Personally, I would feel fortunate just to be selected with the top overall pick and I would sign a fair deal before the draft. But then again, I’m not in his shoes so I have no idea what other factors he’s dealing with. Either way, it’s safe to say that he’ll go in the top 5 and will be the first quarterback taken in April.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Sam Bradford impresses at Pro Day

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:14:51 +0000

According to Oklahoma football beat writer John E. Hoover via his Twitter page, quarterback Sam Bradford had a great Pro Day performance.

From Rotoworld.com:

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford officially completed 49-of-50 passes at his Monday Pro Day. He completed another 13-of-13 from a stationary stance.

“That’s the best I’ve seen since Troy Aikman,” observed NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. Bradford’s lone misfire came on a drop by Sooners backup wideout Adron Tennell, and the projected No. 1 overall pick showed an impressive, strong build. Pro Days are intended to make players look good, but Bradford was as sharp as can be, exhibiting a quick release, plenty of velocity, and outstanding accuracy. We noticed just one throw behind his intended target (Jermaine Gresham still caught it), and he delivered one wobbler on a 40-yard slant-go.

Considering that Tim Tebow and Dan LeFevor failed to impress at their Pro Days and Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy have yet to work out because of injuries, Bradford just improved his draft stock dramatically. The Rams are already interested in him and if he performs well for them in a private work out in late April, he may be heading for St. Louis.

Nothing is a lock at this time of year, but Bradford just went a long ways in making a case that he should be the No. 1 pick. I realize that Pro Day performances don’t mean as much as game film when it comes to scouting players, but if the Rams were interested before, they’re really interested now.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Sam Bradford won’t work out until March 25

Anthony Stalter — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:30:57 +0000

The agent for quarterback prospect Sam Bradford has informed all NFL teams that the Oklahoma product will not work out until March 25. Dr. James Andrews, who performed the quarterbacks’ shoulder surgery, has advised Bradford not to resume throwing until late next month.

From USA Today:

Bradford suffered a shoulder injury last year that limited him to just three games. He will participate in team meetings and interviews at the scouting combine next week, Jeremiah reported.

Bradford will not only miss the scouting combine, but also Oklahoma’s March 9 Pro Day. He’ll have another shot to throw on March 25 and if he performs well, then chances are his stock won’t fall too much come April.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Report: Bradford to have season-ending surgery

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:04:01 +0000

ESPN.com is reporting that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford will likely have season-ending shoulder surgery.

Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy last season, will address his future plans in a news conference at 6:30 ET Wednesday.

Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on Oklahoma’s second possession during a 16-13 loss to No. 3 Texas on Saturday. The quarterback had previously been out a month with a sprain of the AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder.

Bradford had been ruled out of Oklahoma’s game this week at Kansas (No. 25 BCS, No. 24 AP), but coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday any decision beyond that is yet to come.

Bradford had been projected as an early NFL draft pick, but decided instead to return for his junior season with the Sooners. He was injured just before halftime against BYU and missed Oklahoma’s next three games before returning to throw for 389 yards against Baylor.
He was hurt again when Texas cornerback Aaron Williams sacked him in the first quarter Saturday.

The debate over the next couple months will be whether or not Bradford will enter the NFL draft. He’s not expected to announce that decision at his press conference today, but he’ll certainly be probed about it now that his season looks to be over.

It’s always tough for a player to decide whether or not he wants to enter the NFL draft, but there’s an added element to Bradford’s decision because of his injury. Seeing as how this season didn’t go as planned, he might be inclined to return next year and try to lead Oklahoma back to the national title game. That said, if he returns to school next year, he risks getting hurt again and forgoing millions of dollars in the pros.

I don’t envy his decision.

Stoops won’t discuss Bradford’s return

Anthony Stalter — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:09:40 +0000

When probed about the pending return of his Heisman-winner quarterback, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said he wouldn’t discuss the subject.

From Tulsa World.com:

During his press luncheon on Tuesday, Stoops was asked about Bradford’s progress coming back from a separated shoulder, and Stoops quickly replied, “I’m not even going to go there,” fearing that discussing Bradford’s rehab schedule would only fuel speculation.

Instead, it was Stoops’ comments that fueled speculation on talk radio and message boards Wednesday — speculation that either Bradford is progressing faster than anticipated and may play against Tulsa, or that Bradford’s injury is worse than first feared and he may be out longer than the original prognosis of 2-4 weeks.

After practice Wednesday, Stoops told reporters that Bradford won’t play against TU, but declined to discuss specifics of Bradford’s rehab or return schedule.

Hopefully Bradford won’t be rushed back onto the field. As much as Oklahoma needs him (as well as college football fans looking forward to another tight race in the Big 12), Bradford has bright future ahead of him and can’t risk further injury.

He should return when he’s at or near complete health.

Quarterback class struggles at combine

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:32:21 +0000

Teams in need of a quarterback this offseason might not want to pass on what’s available on the free agent market because the QB class at the NFL scouting combine had a rough weekend.

Georgia’s Matthew Stafford might have been on to something when he didn’t workout this weekend at the combine, because his quarterback brethren didn’t fair too well according to the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock and Paul Burmeister. In fact, the quarterback who impressed the most during drills was West Virginia’s Pat White, who might not even project as a QB in the NFL. White apparently showed the best arm strength of any QB on out routes and also looked very comfortable on a whole.

Scouts said that Mark Sanchez’s (USC) throws were strong and powerful, although his release looked elongated. I had the chance to watch the combine on the NFL Network and I would say his accuracy wasn’t up to snuff, either (or at least not for a quarterback prospect expected to be selected in the first round).

Among the quarterback prospects that really struggled were Alabama’s John Parker Wilson, Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell and Kansas State’s Josh Freeman. Wilson and Harrell were going to be late round projects no matter how they fared at the combine, but Freeman was supposed to have the best physical tools of any QB in the draft. Apparently his first round projection in some mocks was way off.

Stafford’s gamble to not workout might have paid off. Sanchez was the only guy that could have unseated Stafford as the top quarterback prospect and while he was okay in drills, he was far from spectacular.

Teams might be better off waiting for Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Texas’s Colt McCoy to come out next year because outside of Stafford and maybe Sanchez, most of the quarterbacks in this year’s class are developmental projects at best.