Rams GM puts Bradford's shoulder on doctors' shoulders
Published: 2/26/2010 11:21 AM
Last Modified: 2/26/2010 11:21 AM
INDIANAPOLIS — The latest speculation — and it seems strong — is that the St. Louis Rams will take Sam Bradford with the No. 1 pick in April's NFL Draft.
Rams general manager Billy Devaney acknowledged Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine that it's certainly a possibility.
Some question whether Bradford is the best quarterback in the draft. Some think Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is better. The obvious concern on Bradford is his surgically repaired shoulder. Bradford isn't throwing at the combine and delayed his own personal workout to two weeks after OU's campus pro day.
It's there, on March 25, that teams — most significantly the Rams — will want to see just how Bradford's shoulder is doing.
"That's why we're putting it on doctors," Devaney said during a press conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. "They'd better be right. Obviously, we get a lot of tests. We've got to see him throw.”
Devaney is careful about quarterbacks. Alongside Bobby Beathard in 1998, he helped San Diego draft Ryan Leaf with the No. 2 pick, one of the all-time draft busts. He also worked for the Falcons, Redskins and 49ers and was part of teams that went to three Super Bowls.
"With my history of quarterbacks, it’s intangibles for me," he said. "If you don’t have intangibles — to me, the physical skill is almost the easy part."
On Thursday, ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter said he was certain the Rams would take Bradford at No. 1. On Friday, Devaney made fun of the report.
"When Dr. Schefter cleared him medically," he said to a room full of laughter, "we feel real good about Dr. Schefter guaranteeing our pick. We’re on to the second round now."
Other reports have the Rams interested in Michael Vick. Devaney also downplayed that, as well as any talk that incumbent starter Marc Bulger, 32, will be released soon because he's due $8.5 million in 2010.
And still other reports have suggested the Rams might be best served to draft one of this year's blue-chip defensive tackles, OU's Gerald McCoy or Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh.
"When you're 1-15, there's a lot of different directions you can go," Devaney said.
— John E. Hoover
Written by
John E. Hoover
Sports Columnist
