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Sam's choice
Bradford plans to have surgery, enter NFL draft
Oklahoma's Sam Bradford throws a pass against Baylor two weeks ago. Bradford hopes to enter the NFL draft in the spring, and one ESPN analyst projects him to go in the second half of the first round. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published:
10/26/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 10/26/2009 4:06 AM
Related Stories:
Bradford plans for surgery, NFL draft
Bradford's decision is the right one to make
NORMAN — In turning down a significant NFL bankroll last January, Sam Bradford's goals upon returning to college football were to win a national championship, bolster his body, strengthen his arm and sharpen his mind.
Just like his passing, Bradford completed 75 percent.
Although some NFL draft analysts figured Bradford for the No. 1 overall pick had he come out for the 2009 draft, there were still knocks against him. One was that he was too skinny. Another was that he played in a system where he didn't have to think for himself. Another was that the talent around Bradford made him look better than he was.
Now, Bradford gets to find out for himself. On Sunday, he announced that he would have season-ending shoulder surgery, and that he intends to declare himself for the 2010 NFL draft — as long as his shoulder surgery and rehab go well.
Scouts, Inc.'s Todd McShay, a draft contributor for ESPN, projects Bradford will go in the second half of the first round.
"As much as I like saying I think he really is a talented quarterback with unbelievable accuracy, there are a lot of pedestrian quarterbacks who could have excelled in that situation last year," McShay said, "with all those wide receivers, from Juaquin Iglesias to Manuel Johnson all the way down to Jermaine Gresham, the best pass-catching tight end in the country, and behind an offensive line that barely let his shirt get dirty."
McShay is among those who believe Bradford's inability to withstand punishment behind a rebuilt line — he separated his shoulder on Sept. 5, and aggravated it again on Oct. 17 — could hurt his draft stock.
"Yeah, I think, of course it will," McShay said. "First of all, the durability concern is an issue, whether he has surgery or not. Twice in one year, having the same injury? I don't think NFL teams are going to significantly dock him for that, but it becomes an issue. He's certainly going to have to pass all the physicals and go through (workouts) at the combine (in April) in order to get teams to take that red flag off his report."
Longtime draft analyst and ESPN contributor Mel Kiper last week had Bradford ranked fifth — behind four defensive players.
Another draft follower doesn't believe the injury — its recurrence or the surgery — will knock Bradford from the top of the draft board.
"I don't think the fact that he's gotten hurt is going to affect his draft status," says Gil Brandt, senior writer at
NFL.com
and former GM for the Dallas Cowboys. "I think everybody has seen enough of him to know how good he is, and he'll be a top pick."
In last year's draft, guaranteed money for quarterbacks ranged from $41 million (Matthew Stafford at No. 1) to $28 million (Mark Sanchez at No. 5) to $10 million (Josh Freeman at No. 17).
The 6-foot-5 Bradford did add bulk to his spindly frame, going from a lanky 213 pounds last year to a muscled-up 223 this year. The new strength added a bit of velocity and distance to his throws and sped up his release some. He also spent endless hours in the offseason studying defensive tendencies and pre-snap reads.
"Did he completely accomplish those things? No, because I think they're all a work in progress," OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel said. "His arm strength improved, physically he got bigger, stronger, especially the lower body. I think the things they wanted to see, he did attack and get better at."
But 2009 will always be a season lost for Bradford.
Not only would OU have had a better chance to prevail in their three defeats (by a combined total of five points) with their Heisman Trophy winner behind center, but he would have had an opportunity to show NFL scouts he can play without a roster of All-Americans.
"(This season is) when you were gonna see how he handled the pressure, how he threw the ball in the face of a pass rush consistently, was he able to sidestep the rush, was he able to hold up physically, all those things that you want to see as a quarterback," McShay said.
"I think that's what's starting to make teams nervous is that we haven't really seen this guy in live game situations comparable to what we'd see in the NFL.
OU vs. Kansas State
6 p.m. Saturday
TV:
FSOK-27
Radio:
KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430
John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
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comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Hlywood7
, Edmond (10/26/2009 7:00:44 AM)
According to good ole McShay, Bradford was the only QB that had talent on his team last year. I guess Sanchez and Stafford were on horrible teams with a bunch of JV players around them.
Report Comment
Jay of Tulsa
, (10/26/2009 7:58:48 AM)
I wish Sam Bradford lots of luck....
Now OU can focus on making Landry Jones the best he can be without the distractions surrounding Bradford.
Report Comment
Arbythree
, Tulsa (10/26/2009 8:12:07 AM)
Good luck Sam. Thank you for the memories and I will look forward to your successful future, on and off the field.
Report Comment
Steff M
, Claremore (10/26/2009 8:38:47 AM)
I don't think that's what McShay said, Hlywood7, but there's no disputing Sam had more weapons and a better line than those other guys, especially Stafford.
Report Comment
KGListon
, BA (10/26/2009 9:54:49 AM)
I too would have liked to see sam with a not so great of a line. But he also needs to heal properly. Being able to throw and being able to take a hit are two different things. Just like AD and his collerbone, he was supposed to be ready for OSU game, but still wasn't perfect for the bowl game against boise st.
He fine now, just ask that guy he blew up yesterday aganst pittsburg. I wouldn't mind seeing sam drop to the bottom of the first round. Minnesota is gonna need a QB soon. And Farve would be a good one to learn from.
His money wouldn't be as big up front, but you also dont want to be a matt linert, big upfront money but cant get on the playing field. I will need the NFL ticket to see sam play anyway, because I sure dont want him going to dallas or KC. KC is terrible and jerry jones wont hire a coach smarter than him.
Report Comment
TMS
, (10/26/2009 11:54:01 AM)
Everybody wishes Bradford the best. But everyone should have seen what McShay talks about also. The players surronding him made him look great. If he has muscled up so to speak this year, he still doesn't show it. Look at Colt's arms, and he sure didn't have it last year and he knew it.
Report Comment
Steff M
, Claremore (10/26/2009 1:36:28 PM)
Last time I checked, TMS, he's about the same size as most NFL QB's. Rothlisberger and McNabb are not the norm. You think ten pounds of muscle would make THAT much difference? You think it would have prevented this injury? I doubt it. Also, McShay is an idiot. Yeah, the players surrounding him gave him a rocket-launcher, pin-point accuracy and the ability to make good decisions most of the time. Puleeze.
Report Comment
kyote
, (10/26/2009 6:38:33 PM)
Didn't have to think for himself and others around him made him look better than he was sure hits the nail on the head. So Long, Now maybe the tulsa world will find something else to report on like all the other players on the field that made sam look good.
Report Comment
lovethemsooners
, Fayetteville (10/26/2009 11:54:35 PM)
Todd McShay was an extremely pedestrian QB who could not have excelled in our offense last year. I still don't understand why ESPN hires this guy. They should have gone after a real NFL scout for the job, not some 3rd rate small college QB with an agenda. Why else would there be such a disparity between where McShay says he'll go, and where Kiper says he'll go.
Report Comment
Steff M
, Claremore (10/28/2009 10:11:29 AM)
I don't know why ESPN didn't call kyote for his exceptional evaluation skills. All the other experts who had him 1st pick apparently failed to take into consideration his supporting cast.
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