Take Bradford’s reported trade demand at face value
There is only one way to interpret quarterback Sam Bradford’s reported demand to be traded by the Eagles, if the reports are indeed accurate. Here is that interpretation: He wants to be traded. This is a rare what-you-see-is-what-you-get in the dance between professional athletes and their employers. Usually there is bluffing involved and posturing and chest-puffing and all manner of artifice from both sides. There are more lines drawn in the sand than at a beach-volleyball tournament.
That isn’t what Bradford is doing. He doesn’t want to get a better deal. He wants to leave, and he is in excellent position to force that to happen.
Since the collective bargaining agreement of 2011, holdouts generally take place for two reasons: An experienced player believes he has outperformed an existing contract, or a younger player entering the option year of his rookie contract wants to avoid a franchise tag.
Bradford is in a different category, one just invented by Eagles executive Howie Roseman. Bradford gave up free agency to sign a contract with a team that pledged its troth only to find, seven weeks later, that troths ain’t what they used to be.
Apparently unwilling to stay for a year and get pounded behind a still-shaky offensive line, Bradford says the Eagles, by trading up to the No. 2 pick in the draft last week, have seen the last of him. That is the logical extension of threatening to stay away until he is traded.
Only one mandatory set of practices is scheduled before training camp, a June 7-9 minicamp that would cost Bradford a $70,000 fine if he doesn’t appear. Manziel to be indicted? Johnny Manziel is expected to be indicted Tuesday on allegations that he attacked his ex-girlfriend in January, an attorney for the troubled former NFL quarterback said.
Robert Hinton told the Associated Press that prosecutors have notified him they expect a local grand jury to sign off on a misdemeanor assault charge for family violence for Manziel, 23. The Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
An indictment would further imperil Manziel’s chances of playing pro football. He was cut by the Cleveland Browns, dropped by two agents and no longer has endorsements. Dallas’ draft: Jerry Jones says he’s inclined to stay at No. 4 with the Cowboys’ highest pick in 25 years.
Just don’t expect the Dallas owner and general manager to be looking for Tony Romo’s successor or the next Emmitt Smith in that lofty spot.
Jones said Monday that drafting the replacement for Romo wasn’t a high priority, and that the Cowboys weren’t in a “have to” situation at running back.
Defensive end is the most glaring need. Randy Gregory will be suspended the first four games for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy, and Jones acknowledged that DeMarcus Lawrence is facing a suspension as well. Gregory and Lawrence were second-round picks each of the past two years. Chiefs sign Williams: Kansas City added to its wide-receiver depth by signing Mike Williams to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to the Kansas City Star.
NFL Network first reported the news.
Williams, 28, was a fourthround pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Syracuse in 2010. He spent the first four years of his career with the Bucs, leading all rookies with 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns, with the latter being a franchise record.