Bradford trade a ‘win-win’
Birds former QB ready to return as a Viking after preseason trade
“For us to play the way we have early, to be winning, it’s just been a lot of fun. Obviously I’m still kind of getting to know this place, this organization, my teammates but it’s been fun so far and I’m just trying to enjoy the ride.”
– Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford
During a farreaching conference call Wednesday, Sam Bradford showed a side of himself only teammates knew was there.
Breaking: The guy has personality.
Speaking to a room of Philly area media, the ex-Eagles quarterback got the place rolling with a long “Yo” followed by “You guys miss me, huh?”
Obviously “Sammy Sleeves” doesn’t keep up with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and the Eagles as much as he alleges.
There’s no denying that Bradford, who has guided the Minnesota Vikings to a 5-0 start, has found a comfort level to die for with the franchise that just six weeks ago acquired him from the Eagles for a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder.
“I think everyone will agree winning cures all,” Bradford said. “When you’re winning, work is more fun, you enjoy life more. It’s just a better feeling in the build-
ing when you’re winning. For us to play the way we have early, to be winning, it’s just been a lot of fun. Obviously I’m still kind of getting to know this place, this organization, my teammates but it’s been fun so far and I’m just trying to enjoy the ride.”
Bradford played well statistically down the homestretch with the Eagles last season. Just not well enough to reach the playoffs, save the job of Chip Kelly or convince the Eagles he was their future. They signed him to a twoyear contract with $22 million guaranteed, then set out to trade up in the draft to bag Wentz.
The Eagles are 3-2, their sizzling start tempered by back-to-back losses. Would they be as good as they are with Bradford? Would they be better if they hadn’t traded Bradford?
“I think that’ll always be a question mark,” Bradford said. “I was excited. I thought we had a really good preseason, a really good training camp. I was looking forward to building on what we were able to do the second half of last year.”
Bradford made himself untradeable with a trade demand. Once the Eagles realized what Wentz could do, Bradford was expendable. Nonetheless Bradford was shocked and half asleep when told of the trade that wasn’t on his radar.
Meanwhile Wentz was flat on his back hunting geese somewhere in New Jersey when Doug Pederson told him he was the starting quarterback.
“That’s just the nature of this business,” Wentz said. “That’s the NFL. Things happen, guys get traded, that’s kind of how it works. This is the next one on our schedule. We’re excited to face them. They’re a good defense, a good team. It’ll be a good matchup and I’m glad we’re getting them at home.”
As far as Wentz is concerned “it’s the Vikings versus the Eagles.
“They’re coming in here and it’ll be a good one.”
Pederson put a smiley face on the trade.
“Really, for both teams it’s a win-win,” Pederson said. “I feel like Sam, given this opportunity he’s excelled, he’s done well. He went to a fabulous football team, a playoff football
team. And you know, we’re taking a young quarterback who’s … I mean we’re 3-2. We started out 3-0. And we’ve just got to get back to that. We’re close in a lot of areas and we’ve just got to keep that focus.”
The Vikings (5-0) are 2 1-2 point favorites with Bradford, who leads the league with a 70.4 completion percentage. His 109.8 passer rating ranks second overall and he’s thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions. Bradford also has been sacked 8 times.
“Our pass rush,” Pederson said, “has got to show up this week.”
The Eagles have hit the skids offensively the past couple of games largely because they lack serious threats at the skills positions, and the offensive line is breaking in a rookie right tackle.
Would it be different with the immobile Bradford playing quarterback?
“I was fully confident that he was going to have the type of success that he’s having now with Minnesota,” Pederson said. “He came off the preseason with us here an all-time high. He was throwing the ball with accuracy, decisiveness. He was feeling comfortable with the offense.”
Wentz has thrown seven touchdowns and just one interception for a 99.9 rating. He hasn’t played a defense like the Vikings, who play fast and sound. The Vikings allow just 12.6 points per game, least in the NFL. They top the league with 12 takeaways and have 18 sacks.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, on a conference call, spoke about the added dimension Bradford gives the Vikings.
“You lose a guy like Teddy Bridgewater,” Zimmer said of the starter lost to a serious knee injury, “and all of the sudden there’s a guy like Bradford, it lifts your football team. I think it’s been a win for us.”
Bradford anticipates getting a Philly welcome when he opposes the Eagles Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Still in a good mood, he asked the media “What type of reception do you guys expect?
“I know what it’s going to be like, obviously, last year being there,” Bradford said. “It’s a tough atmosphere for road teams to play. I get that. I think we all understand that when we come up there. I’m sure there’ll be a little extra for us this week. But I’m not really too focused on what it’s going to be like.”