Bradford shoulder '85 percent'; eager to show NFL
Published: 2/27/2010 12:58 PM
Last Modified: 2/27/2010 12:58 PM
By John E. Hoover
World Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford said Saturday he's eager to see if he truly is the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Bradford took questions for 15 minutes inside the media interview room at Lucas Oil Stadium, and discussed a number of topics. He even made the declaration that his right shoulder was 85 percent healthy. After his shoulder, most of the discussion centered on the possibility of his being drafted No. 1.
"I think everyone dreams of being No. 1," he said. "I'm gonna show them (NFL scouts) everything I have. But that's not up to me, that's up to them.
"When teams see me throw on (March) 25th, they'll see what they're getting."
Bradford, who will have dinner with the St. Louis Rams — owner of the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft — said he's been throwing up to 100 passes, from 20-40 yards, with "pretty much all I can on it." That's part of his rehab program following a successful reconstruction of his shoulder joint last October.
At the combine, he said he has met for several hours with NFL doctors who wanted to see for themselves how much strength he has in the shoulder, as well as its range of motion.
Bradford was hurt in September, then re-injured the shoulder in October. He said he briefly considered calling it quits after the first injury, but said, "if I didn't try to come back, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
Projected as the possible No. 1 overall pick for the 2009 draft before returning to OU, he said he never thought he had hurt his financial future, even after his injury.
"I never really felt that way," he said. "I know a lot of people say that. But the fact that I got hurt doesn't change who I am. It doesn't change my work ethic."
Answering questions from roughly 50 reporters, Bradford was asked his best qualities as a quarterback.
"I think I'm a great leader," he said. "If you ask any of my teammates from Oklahoma that are here, they'll tell you that. I am vocal. I get after guys when I need to. But I also like to lead by example.
"I'm extremely accurate. You have to be as a quarterback. . . . I think I have great feet and I can make a lot of athletic throws. I can take a hit. I'm tough."
John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
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John E. Hoover
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