Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro

Hopefully Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford's shoulder isn't injured too badly. It doesn't look overly serious. That's the good news.

Bradford, however, remains yet another illustration of why college players with his kind of ability should take the cash and run.

Returning was a tremendous risk. There was a good chance had Bradford departed last year he might've gone first to the Detroit Lions. Might have. The player who did, Matthew Stafford, signed a $41 million deal.

That's what Bradford gave up and even if the shoulder injury isn't significant it still gives something to NFL teams to obsess. They love obsessing. When contract negotiations begin, those same teams will use the injury against Bradford to try and lower his contract demands, no matter how minor it might end up being.

If you don't believe that, you don't know the NFL. It happens all the time.

So even if Bradford comes back next week (and a sprained shoulder joint many times takes weeks to heal) his draft status for 2010 has already been slightly injured.

If he does miss a few weeks his draft stock takes an even bigger hit.

Take the cash and run. Run fast. And don't look back. That's what Bradford should've done.

And it's likely that's what he's thinking right now.

Trouper Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 4, 2008	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:24 pm Score: 72 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro I dont know if youve heard about this but there is a thing called love of the game, and Bradford possibly found it more important than the money he is bound to make in the future. [ Reply to Comment ]
bigdog2323 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 29, 2007	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:26 pm Score: 95 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro Freeman, His draft stock is 100% not hurt by missing a few games. If you really think having to sit out a couple games in the beginning of the season is reason to drop him down charts, you are confused. I don't know how you even came to that conclusion....it's a sprained shoulder, not a major tear, rotator cuff, etc. [ Reply to Comment ]
SRC Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 20, 2006	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:46 pm Score: 103 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro If I had to pick between someone like Bradford or one of the many who leave college early for money, I will tell my kids every time to look up to someone like Bradford. He values things like education, team, love of the game, etc. over materialistic things. He can look back at his life in many years and know that he did "the right thing" and that counts for much more than any dollar figure. I'm glad there are players like Bradford, McCoy, Tebow, etc. that will be role models for my children and their generation. [ Reply to Comment ]
peterson28 Reputation: 4 Level: Amateur Since: Feb 23, 2009	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:50 pm Score: 74 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro "Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro?!" Mr. Freeman, this is why you should quit this job and find one that doesn't subject people to idiot statement's by yourself! Money may be all that matters to you sir, but maybe Mr. Bradford made his decision to stay in school because he valued completing his education so that he would have a career after football! Or just maybe he saw the statistics on a 19 year old quarterback making it in the pro game? Instead of chastising the young man, maybe you should commend him for valueing his education. [ Reply to Comment ]
big-dave23 Reputation: 81 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 17, 2009	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:50 pm Score: 114 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro The kid's got talent. Let's say the injury lasts a couple weeks and, worst case scenario, his draft stock goes down. He'll end up in the late first round with a good team that needs a QB for the future. He'll sit behind a veteran QB, learn the NFL game for a couple years and hit the ground running when he starts, propelling his gameplay into top tier status. On the other hand, he could have gone to the Lions. Enough said. [ Reply to Comment ]
peterson28 Reputation: 4 Level: Amateur Since: Feb 23, 2009	Posted on: September 5, 2009 10:52 pm Score: 73 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro "Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro?!" Mr. Freeman, this is why you should quit this job and find one that doesn't subject people to idiot statement's by yourself! Money may be all that matters to you sir, but maybe Mr. Bradford made his decision to stay in school because he valued completing his education so that he would have a career after football! Or just maybe he saw the statistics on a 19 year old quarterback making it in the pro game? Instead of chastising the young man, maybe you should commend him for valueing his education. [ Reply to Comment ]
TremorChrist Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Apr 20, 2009	Posted on: September 5, 2009 11:01 pm Score: 107 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro Money doesn't matter to everyone Freeman. I admire that kid for doing what he did. He is the complete opposite of everything that is wrong with the college sports. You can't put a dollar value on being on a football team and trying to win a championship. You wouldn't know this because your staff meetings are the extent of any 'team' unity you've ever had. [ Reply to Comment ]
SRC Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 20, 2006	Posted on: September 5, 2009 11:02 pm Score: 92 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro It's based on his experience. He left elementary school after 4th grade to become a sports site blogger - figured the money was better than finishing elementary school education. Unfortunately, his journalistic skills are exactly what have hindered him from advancing his career, if you can even call what he does a career. [ Reply to Comment ]
bgtaylor4 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 5, 2006	Posted on: September 5, 2009 11:05 pm Score: 61 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro It ain't so, but would that the NFL and NBA required a college degree to "work" for their company. [ Reply to Comment ]
steelers=sb Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 18, 2007	Posted on: September 5, 2009 11:15 pm Score: 86 Sam Bradford: this is why you go pro Maybe he wanted to finish college. You know get a degree? Incase you forgot academics come before athletics. Let me guess, Myron Rolle should have went to the NFL also. [ Reply to Comment ]

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