Bradford’s surgery a success
Sam Bradford underwent successful surgery on his throwing shoulder on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala.
The 35-minute procedure was finished at 10:45 this morning, and Bradford, though still experiencing soreness, was resting comfortably.
“It all looked great in the end and everyone seems to feel very good about it,” said Kent Bradford, Sam Bradford’s father, in a release.
Kent Bradford was able to watch some of the surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, and said the reigning Heisman winner would go through a limited exercise session on Wednesday before returning home in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Obama reaches out to…Sam Bradford?
President Barack Obama named University of Oklahoma president David Boren co-chairman of his Intelligence Advisory Board today.
But at the tail end of his speech announcing the decision, Obama had this to say:
“I thank David for agreeing to serve in this capacity, even as he continues to lead the University of Oklahoma.”
Obama added: “And we are sorry about (Sam) Bradford’s shoulder.”
Bradford was scheduled to undergo surgery in Birmingham, Ala. today, and while Obama’s words likely won’t speed his recovery, Oklahoma’s own Sammy B can’t hate to hear that.
The words of Sam Bradford
Below is the entirety of what could be QB Sam Bradford’s final press conference at Oklahoma. Bradford will undergo season-ending surgery in Birmingham, Ala., Wed., effectively ending his career as a Sooner. Bradford is expected to enter the NFL Draft after this season.
On all that went into the decision:
It was like making the decision last year whether to stay in school or enter the draft. I wanted to get as many opinions as possible. I talked with as many people as I could to make the right decision. After talking to a lot of people, it seemed like this was the unanimous decision that everyone came to.
On realizing he won’t play for OU again:
I dreamed about coming here. The first time I got hurt, I was sitting on the sidelines knowing I was coming back. That was the light at the end of the tunnel. But to make this decision and realize I’m going to be playing my last game at Oklahoma, it’s really tough.
On whether he’ll wait to hire an agent:
No, I’m not going to see any agents until after the season. By doing that, I wouldn’t get to travel and take part with this team. If the surgery doesn’t go well, then I do have the possibility of returning. Hopefully, though, that’s not an issue.
On whether he’ll know enough about his shoulder to feel comfortable moving on to the NFL in January:
As long as I’m on the right track, and doctors feel I’m making the right progress, I’ll have enough information to make that decision.
On how he got connected with James Andrews:
At first, it’s something our doctors wanted to send images, when it first happened, to him. We just kind of stayed in contact with him ever since. My dad has been corresponding with him.
On why he delayed his announcement:
Sunday after the game, I talked with coach Stoops, I felt I would be ready to make a statement by then. I don’t think I realized the magnitude of the situation and information to make that decision, I just felt like the decision needed more time necessary, a couple extra days.
On what information he got:
Coach Stoops talked to several people late last week and got some information, very important information for me and good stuff to hear from those people.
On the finality of his career:
My teammates have been great. They have supported me all through it. Last week was the hardest game I ever had to sit on the sidelines. Especially to come into the locker room and see everybody celebrating. And realize that I’m not really going to be part of that anymore. Pretty tough.
On the rest of the season:
I think a lot of things are still in front of this team. I’m extremely proud of the way they bounced back after Texas. I still feel they fought tremendously hard that Texas game. But to rebound the way we did and go on the road in a tough atmosphere and to get a win, that just shows the character of this team and where we’re going the rest of this year.
On why he needs surgery now:
Really the same thing. When it first happened, surgery, everybody felt that wasn’t need. Everyone felt that the best thing was to let the shoulder heal itself. We tried that. It did heal and I was able to play. But the first hit I took it re-injured it and they felt like every time I kept coming back it would re-injured it. The surgery will repair the joint and put it back to normal and strengthen it.
On coming back a second time:
I thought that was a possibility. I wasn’t sure what the doctors were going to tell me. I knew there was a possibility they were going to tell me my season was over. I thought I might be able to come back, but they told me that wasn’t going to happen.
On Landry Jones:
I think Landry is a great player. He’s been put into some tough situations. It’s not easy coming in the middle of a game. Especially not getting as many reps during practice. Landry is stepping up and being a leader of this team. Last week, I was extremely proud of him. Going on the road playing against a ranked team and playing the way he did, I think it shows the tremendous upside that he has. I think he’s going to be a great quarterback here.
On looking at the positive of the surgery:
That’s where my mindset is right now. It’s unfortunate that I have to have surgery but I look forward to the rehab process and getting my shoulder back to where it is and getting to the draft and showing everybody I’m still the same player I was before I got hurt.
On his popularity:
Like I said earlier, these guys have been so supportive and I think that’s one of the hardest things about being hurt. We go through so much together. We go through workouts together – I spend more time with these guys than I do anyone else. To go through as much as we do and to have it taken away and not get to play with them and not get to compete with them, that’s the hardest thing and that’s the hardest thing about sitting on the sideline. Knowing that if I was healthy, I could help these guys. It’s just a helpless feeling that I can’t be out there with them.
On what might have been if he hadn’t gotten hurt:
I don’t know if I can really answer that. We are extremely close and we’ve had three losses by I think five points. We’re a couple of plays away in every game from winning. Like I said, I think this team has a lot of character and it was shown last week the way we came out and played against Kansas. I think everyone realizes we still have a lot of football left in this season and I look forward to helping these guys win.
On whether he’ll get his degree:
I will not get it in December. I’ll be a couple of hours short. Talking to my advisors, I’ll be able to take a couple of online classes and I should be able to finish in the spring.
On what advice he received:
They really just tried to help me gather information and they wanted it to be my decision. They told me they supported me no matter what I decided. They really just told me to stay positive, and whatever decision I make, just to have my heart in it 100-percent.
On not having any regrets about coming back:
No. Absolutely, 100 percent, no regrets.
On whose advice he put the most stock in:
Everyone. Coach Stoops, he played a big part in it. He talked to a lot of very important people, at least I felt, in making the decision. Coach Heupel, all my coaches, my family, the doctors – pretty much everybody. But some of the people Coach Stoops talked to late last week, that really helped me make my decision.
On possibly being the first OU QB to break the NFL barrier:
I don’t know if it’s so much the people around here as it is me, myself. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and I look at it as another challenge. I look forward to working as hard as I can to make it happen.
On when he dreamed of being an NFL player:
I don’t know. I made that decision that I wanted to go to the NFL, probably a long time ago. You grow up wanting to go to the NFL and obviously I grew up in Oklahoma and wanted to play here. But you grow up and you watch the Super Bowl and you watch all the quarterbacks and it’s something I dreamed about. I think I’ve come a long way and I think I have a long way to go to prove that to people and prove that to myself.
On how the timing affected the decision:
I think maybe at the beginning it did. It felt a little overwhelming. It’s obviously something that I prepared and wished I was doing at the end of the season. I think going through the process last year really helped me understand what all needed to be done and who I needed to talk to. So that made it easier.
On being a national story:
I don’t really pay attention to the media much so I couldn’t tell you I knew that. Sometimes I really wish it wasn’t that big of a deal. Obviously if it is, it’s a nice complement to me and my teammates and what we’re doing at this university.
On how enjoying college affected the decision:
Like I said earlier, it’s extremely tough considering this is where I grew up and this is where I played. To put this in the past is extremely tough and I’ve been extremely blessed to be here. The past three-and-a-half years have been the best three-and-a-half years of my life. I wouldn’t trade a day of it.
On if he still doesn’t know about NFL rookie salary slots:
Yeah, we’ll figure that out later.
On whether his college relationships were worth putting off the NFL money for another year:
No doubt. Some people think money is everything, but to me, money is not everything. You look at these guys and the friendships and the experiences I’ve had here – not many people can say that. I wouldn’t trade any of it for money.
On being satisfied with his career:
Definitely. Obviously we’re a little disappointed that we didn’t win the national championship last year and that’s something that’s always going to bug me and bug everyone who as a part of that team. If you look back over some of the things we’ve done over the last couple of years, I think we’ve been extremely blessed.
On whether he feels he’s losing his youth:
I don’t know if you can say that. I’m still relatively young, I think. Anytime you enter into professional anything I think you do lose something. Obviously things do change but it’s just another chapter in my life and I look forward to the new challenge and I’m up for it and I can’t wait to start working as hard as I can to succeed in that chapter.
-JT
Bradford and Griffin: Just unlucky
Six hours after Sam Bradford said goodbye to Oklahoma football, news broke that Sooner Nation’s other blessed son, Clippers rookie Blake Griffin, had a stress fracture in his kneecap that would delay his official NBA debut six weeks.
Plenty credit The Clippers Curse. Others want to throw a dunce cap on Sam Bradford for giving millions of dollars an escape route.
It’s mostly just a shame.
Griffin was a lock at No. 1 in last June’s NBA Draft. Bradford was a probable top five pick in his own draft.
Griffin left. Bradford stayed.
Now, they’re both reminders that sometimes you’re just unlucky. Bradford didn’t let a pair of blitzers through unblocked. It’s not Griffin’s fault the Clippers won the NBA Draft Lottery.
Griffin had more buzz than any rookie in the NBA in the preseason, after he Youtube’d the Lakers’ D.J. Mbenga and earned the nickname “Amazin’” from his Clipper teammates. Maybe the worst part of the injury for Sooner fans is they’ll now have to wait until next year to see the phenom play in Oklahoma again.
Griffin will miss his homecoming game against the Thunder on Nov. 15, and the two won’t play again until March, when the Thunder travel to Los Angeles.
Griffin and Bradford did what they felt was right for them. Sometimes misfortune just gets in the way, no matter the decision.
Chat: David Ubben (10.26)
OU 35, Kansas 13: Postgame thoughts
It looks like the Sam Bradford era is officially over. Sunday, the announcement came that Bradford is undergoing season-ending surgery on his separated shoulder. If all goes as planned, he will enter the NFL Draft.
That means the Landry Jones era has officially begun. Jones was sharp in the second half against Kansas, and really pretty well the whole game. In the first half, he didn’t get much help from his receivers, outside Ryan Broyles.
Jones completed 26 of 38 passes for 252 yards and 2 TDs. The lone pick wasn’t his fault, as it bounced off the hands of Cam Kenney into the arms of a Kansas safety.
The Sooners appear to be in good hands with Jones going forward. H
Other observations:
* Adron Tennell had the best game in his career. Tennell, after a terrible start to the season, is getting a second chance due to the inconsistent play of the other WRs. Tennell had 6 catches, 47 yards and a TD.
* It was nice to see Chris Brown get going again on the ground game. The Sooners have had a heck of a time running the ball this year behind its current line. Still, 66 yards against Kansas is hardly a banner day. For the Sooners to win out, they have to run the ball more efficiently than they have.
* The o-line instability continues. Tavaris Jeffries was suspended. And RT Cory Brandon got the start over Jarvis Jones, which speaks more to Jones’ inconsistent play. Only LT Trent Williams has started every game on the line this season. And he’s currently banged up with a slightly sprained ankle.
* Jeremy Beal is a stud. So is GK McCoy. Will the Big 12 defensive player of the year battle come down to those two? Suh from Nebraska is in the mix, too, but has NU continues to slip, his chances fade.
* Adrian Taylor is really an unsung hero with this defense. The Jr. DT is playing every snap at a high level. He isn’t McCoy. But he’s not that far off.
* Jon Nelson has emerged at safety and had a very strong game against Kansas. He will continue to press Sam Proctor for playing time. His emergence off the bench has been nice, since the defense while talented is not deep. Def. coordinator Brent Venables only plays three subs: DE Frank Alexander, LB/S Joe Ibiloye, and now Nelson.
* Who is playing better at CB? Brian Jackson? Or Dom Franks? Deciding for All-Big 12 corner between the two won’t be easy. No right answer at this point. No wrong answer.
-JT
Unfavorable comparison for Bradford
Not the kind of buzz Bradford would like to inspire at this point.
Last season, Sam Bradford played behind a dominant offensive line, racking up 50 touchdown passes and helping the Oklahoma offense score 716 points.
Bradford’s lack of contact, though good for Oklahoma’s laundry bills, brought a flood of questions about how Bradford would perform behind an average offensive line. It wasn’t his No. 1 reason for coming back, but Bradford won’t get his chance to definitively answer that question.
Now, he’s drawn an ominous comparison from at least one NFL scout.
From the New York Times:
The former N.F.L. scout Dave Razzano projects Bradford as an upper-end first-round pick, but he said he needed to watch more game tape of Bradford.
“I need to see him in games where he was pressured,” said Razzano, who scouted in the N.F.L. for 21 years and most recently worked for the Arizona Cardinals.
Razzano said Bradford reminded him of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who played at Southern California, in that neither faced much defensive pressure in college. When Bradford played against Texas earlier this month, Razzano said he was bothered that Bradford locked in on receivers and threw errant passes when pressured.
He said that many quarterbacks who struggled in transition to the N.F.L. rarely faced defensive pressure in college.
“Everybody can sit back and make throws with time,” Razzano said. “Now, the question is, can he without time?”
While it’s doubtful Bradford flies up the Google Trends chart with a barrage of party photos featuring him bonging beers and getting friendly in a hot tub with bikini-clad co-eds, the on-field comparison is probably fair.
That said, Bradford is still a long way from being a key player in one of the great all-time postgame rants.
Bradford travels with team
He may end up having surgery. But not this weekend. OU quarterback Sam Bradford traveled with the team to Lawrence, Kan., for the Sooners’ game Saturday against Kansas.
-JT
Alex Smith offers Bradford advice
When Bradford suffered his original shoulder injury, he spoke with the New York Giants’ Eli Manning, who returned from a less-serious injury in 10 days, eventually leading his team to a Super Bowl win.
Now that he’s re-injured the shoulder, Bradford spoke with a source who had a less positive experience with the injury: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
Smith suffered a third-degree separation in September, but the original diagnosis was that surgery wasn’t necessary. Smith missed three games, the same amount as Bradford, and then returned to the lineup. He played poorly, blaming the injury for his lost accuracy.
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
“We’ve been trading phone calls,” Alex Smith said Thursday. “He called, twice. When you’ve torn ligaments in your shoulder, it takes time to heal. It’s different than other positions. When you take hits like that, it impairs your ability to throw the ball.”
Smith eventually saw Dr. James Andrews, who Bradford has also consulted with, and he determined that the injury hadn’t healed like they thought it would, and Smith underwent surgery.
Download the OU-Kansas Pregame Package
Click the image to download your quick look at this weekend’s OU football game from The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com — in printable and portable form. (Please note that it is a PDF document.)
