Strange signals from Bradford
I’ve got to admit, I have no idea what to make of Sam Bradford’s statement that surgery is an option.
He goes from the brink of playing vs. Miami — sharing snaps all of last week — to talking about if, not when, he might return to quarterbacking Oklahoma.
Bradford said any decision he makes will be based solely on his ability to play this season and will have nothing to do with his NFL draft status. Bradford also said there was plenty to play for, despite OU’s two losses, and he’s right about that.
It’s a silly mentality that a season loses all meaning if a squad is eliminated from national-championship consideration. Heck, as Bradford said, you can’t even accept the idea that the BCS title game is out of reach, even if it’s true. LSU reached the title game — and won it — with two losses in 2007, one of them after Thanksgiving.
But Bradford’s health remains a mystery. How could he still be unsure if he can even return this season, if his health was good enough last week to get Bob Stoops to Thursday before announcing Landry Jones as the starter.
Perhaps the Bradford camp asked for a little slowdown on the Sam comeback, to make sure. Kent Bradford, Sam’s dad, told cbssportsline.com last week that ideally, Sam would have two more weeks off. Then it became partially true. Maybe he’s waiting for Texas, next week. Bradford certainly isn’t needed this week against Baylor.
If you want my best guess, I’ll say Texas will be Bradford’s return. That’s what I thought all along, until the practices last week made me think Bradford just might start in Miami. But after last week and Bradford’s comment Tuesday, anything sounds possible.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
Bo and others, I am tired of bitchin about the coaching. It is obvious we don’t know much because the head man basically said so. From what I see none of it is sinking in.
Sam Braford’s injury and return is a different matter. Tuff injury to gauge from any point but I think the young man’s head is on right. He said in his press conference ‘that money isn’t everything’. I trust Bradford’s judgment about what timing is best for his return. The RRS will be a tough one to come back on and it might be a nightmare for Smack Clown and his Whorns. Now wouldn’t that be nice.
I agree. It was a very strange press conference. Seemed like he was being half-honest with his answers.
I’m not an ou fan but I am an Oklahoma fan so I follow ou because if my Pokes can’t win it, I’d rather ou win. But honestly you have to question the coaching staff’s decisions, the problem with that is, we don’t know the big picture that Stoops and Wilson know and have to factor into their game time decisions. I think one of the few chinks in Bob Stoops’ armor is his ability to think / make decisions on his feet, during a game. He doesn’t make adjustments well and it’s cost him several of his losses so if I was a big ou fan like most of the people that post on these newsok.com blogs, I WOULD be concerned about coaches, but I wouldn’t be calling for anyone’s head……….yet.
As for Mack Brown losing sleep over the return of Sam Bradford, you’re dreaming. After watching the enemic display of defense and even worse play of the offense, ole “Smack” as you call him, is drooling over the RRS matchup. If ou doesn’t make some serious improvement over the next two weeks, there will be a “Smackin’” alright and you ou homers will NOT LIKE the smackees.
As for Sam Bradford, I think he is a remarkable athlete and a very very nice kid, but he’s flat out lying when he says that his potential NFL career has zero impact on his decisions. I guarantee his father at least is worried and I’m sure Sam is too. He’s already lost millions a year, you would not want him to rush it, compound the injury and end up with the measly insurance payoff. It would truly be sad if that happened.
This is all a very bizare situation and the press releases don’t make it any less so!!
First of all,
Sam hasn’t lost anything as far as the NFL is concerned. He’s obviously not getting paid this year but I’ve yet to hear anyone make any comment suggesting his draft status for next year is suspect. Whether he is the no. 1 pick or not will depend on the drafting team’s needs at quarterback. Whether he’s the no. 1 quarterback will depend on post-injury performance, which is why there may be some motivation in the Bradford camp to returning this season. Obviously he can put in a good performance for the scouts without returning, but returning and performing well may help him. Concerns about sub-par stats with a softer O-line and injured receivers are valid though. Bradford is a straight-shooter. He’s back this season because he thought we had a valid shot at a Nat’l Championship. Now he wants to play because he’s a competitor. Slights to his intentions are unnecessarily cynical.
Getting hurt certainly doesn’t HELP one’s draft status.
His stock has UNDOUBTEDLY dropped since last year. No two ways about it. But since he didn’t go thru the NFL evaluation process, we never really knew what it was to begin with.
He certainly can still work out well this winter (or even next, if he comes back) and be a high draft pick.
Like, everything, the local news hounds are making too much of this. He didn’t say it was likely, just that it was possible if the shouldeer does not heal. That seems like a no brainer, and not the ground shaking new development that Berry and others wished it was. As for the fans on these boards:
I am just happy that nobody on these boards is arrogant, ignorant, silly, dimwitted, foul, nasty, pathetic, moronic, stupid, rude, egotistical, opinionated, confrontation, thin skinned, or overly emotional.
Reguardless of what some readers think, most of us have seen better Big-
Time Football from Wilkinson to Switzer, than we are given credit for. Stoops
is hiding certain members of his staff, and himself behind the DO articles.
Reality check, who’s name is on the stadium, and who prints the paper.
Got a grip on it now! The head man, Buffalo Bob, makes a lot of statements
to cover his crony’s, Venables, Patton, Norvell, Wilson! The guy that owns the
Thunder built a long list of improvements at OU, including the Indoor
Practice facility. Have you got a grip now! Changes need to be made in the Staff. The defense is Stoop’s defense, Venables will be the fall guy.; He makes
$350K plus, and had the 68th rated defense in the nation last season. Who
should go the Stooper or his crony, Venables. You make the call. Stoops won a NC against FSU in ’00 with Blakes player’s, he’s had top 10 recruiting
class’s since then, where’s the titles. Winning the 3rd or 4th best conference
in the nation, Big 12, is not something to hang your hat on. Bowls at the
end of the season prove the conference strength. You make the call.
As a coach gets more established, I think they have a tendency to call/play a game “not to lose” rather than trying plays that, if they don’t work, make you look bad and get you beat. The established teams feel they can line up and simply beat you – and that obviously will not work this year. Don’t get nutty, but we need the Bob Stoops from the early years with this team.
At present, Keving Wilson and Brent Venables are causing once upon a time “Big Game Bob” to suffer from dwarfism.
I remember thinking during the five beat downs in a row that zero U put on the longhorns, that the day of reckoning was coming. It has come and remains. A 3-1 record over zero U, five straight bowl wins (three of them BCS), and a national title feels so sweet. I like it so much I think we will just keep it coming.
Some of these comments amaze me. ONE YEAR ago, Wilson was the OC for the highest-scoring offense in college football HISTORY. Two one-point losses this year, and everyone wants to show him the door.
We lost 4 OL who’s average size was roughly 6’5″, 330#
We lost the probable Mackey award-winner prior to the season.
We lost the reigning Heisman trophy winner prior to halftime of the first game.
We only returned one (wide) receiver who had more than 10 catches, and now he’s out.
We lost our starting center (who calls the blocking schemes) right before the season and had to use our 2nd-team TE! And he did an admirable job, but he’s no center.
Lost two good linebackers in Wort and Balogun. Wort would have been a playmaker, and Balogun would have given us much-needed depth.
And to everyone climbing on the ‘no depth/reloading’ bandwagon, saying we’re not developing players- do you really think the onus should go on the coaches when a 3rd-teamer fills in for a starter and doesn’t perform at the same level?
Think about this WHAT IF: Chad Roark stayed at OU; took over at Center against BYU; freeing up Brody Elridge to stay at TE (giving us an experienced, ‘chain-mover’ TE); AND, Josh Jarboe keeps his ignorance in check, begins his sophomore year across from Broyles (giving the Sooners TWO playmaking/deep ball WRs), and then steps up to the No. 1 WR position when Broyles goes down.
With a natural Center calling the blocking scheme against BYU, maybe Bradford still gets pounded (the line is still green), but doesn’t get INJURED; throw in skill players Broyles, Jarboe, Eldridge, Murray and Brown, and that’s still a potent group at the skill positions- and even if Bradford still got hurt, that’s a much better group of skill players surrounding Jones.
SO Jadams do you actually follow or even root for OU? Becuase you are not coming off looking very smart. So by your analysis OU should have never fired John Blake now theres a Bombshell. Oh yess I want some 3 -5 win seasons back at OU cause those were just peachy. And stop comparing Stoops to Switzer and Wilkinson. The only things he has in common with them is his title and the first letter in his first name and for the fact he has won a national title!!! and 6 conference championships!!!!. Ohh yeah i nearly forgot Bud coached 50′s and Switzer coached in 70′s – 80′s, since I know you have trouble with this kinda math that was 30-50+ years ago you cant compare those eras or the players for that matter. OU is lucky to have Stoops and will continue winning conference titles and competing for national titles while hes here.
Crazy ? Berry but do we know if Sam is playing this weekend? I hope your working late and can answer this lightening quick. I have Landry in my fantasy league and would love to start him based on the matchup, I am not convinced the Mizzou qb will do it this evening because of the opponent, Nebraska and its supposed to rain. However, if OU decides to try Sam I may get zero out of my qb. Crazy I know but this is what fantasy football does to a young or old man, with old being my case!!! Keep up the scribing. Terry
Guess I need to learn to read the blog, ha. I think I will take my chances with Landry Jones this week. I want Sam to be healthy and shoulder injuries are nasty and pesky. Had mine dislocated and it really never recovered, of course I was just the steve tasker for my team so no big deal, but whether your a star or not, and depending on each individual’s body healing and pain threshold shoulder injuries are pesky because not alot can be done unless you need surgery. Whatever Sam does is okay by me, he has served OU well, given his best shot, is not a quitter and no matter what his choice is his life is going to be successful. Thanks Sam for being a classy smart young man I cant ask for anymore than you have given. Terry
Right on Ty! This isn’t rocket science. Injuries to 2 if not 3 superstars on offensive has a tendency to affect the game. OU may want to think about keeping Clapp in the backfield as extra protection for the QB to give him a chance to throw downfield, and sneaking him or another back out for a pass as an extra option. You see it in the pros all the time.
Well Berry I pulled Gabbert out, dropped Landry and picked up Locker from Washington so all worked out well. Hey I hope Sam does well and however this plays out for him hopefully is his decision. Sam is a fine young man, smart, his future looks bright whether he ever plays a down in the NFL or not. The young man is a winner. Just have fun Sam, relax and have fun, compete and things will fall into place.
Stoops and Wilson could not loan themselves out for free to coach football for any major university in the USA.They intend to get 3 yards running rt and lt against 4 down linemen and 6 /7 linebackers.They have been perfecting this play for the last 5 yrs?
Result:plus or minus 1 yard.