Bradberry a Giant addition at cornerback
Veteran cornerback James Bradberry joined the Eagles because he liked the scheme, the short-term contract terms, and the fans. Yes, Eagles fans.
“I played in front of these fans a few times when I was in Carolina and also in New York,” Bradberry said Tuesday. “And they’re a pretty rowdy bunch so I thought that would be fun.”
Bradberry will have a lot more fun if he makes the plays the Eagles typically leave on the field on game days. He intercepted four passes last year, second on the New York Giants, who released him and one more than Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, who led the Eagles.
“I think he’s a really good addition for us,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said. “One of the things I love about him is the high football intelligence. He has a high football IQ and production, and he can cover. He can cover. That’s what you want. You want people that can deny the football, and he can do that.”
Bradberry didn’t appreciate being forced to take a pay cut or else with the Giants. Didn’t like it that the “or else” came after the draft, when the market for cornerbacks had dried up. He settled for a oneyear pact with the Eagles worth up to $10 million. And he “for sure” took the short-term deal to test the market again next year. It doesn’t sound like the Giants will get a chance to bring him back.
“First of all, I understand that it’s a business,” a clearly upset Bradberry said. “So, I always put my business cap on first and understand I’m an asset. I understand they want something for me. That was part of the game. Personally, I didn’t necessarily like it but it’s a business at the end of the day and
I understand it.”
What also is refreshing about Bradberry (6-1, 212), a second-round pick of the Panthers in 2016 is that he approaches football with perspective. It’s next to impossible to project how he’ll fit into a defense with Slay in a zone coverage scheme that Gannon has shown no sign of changings.,
Thus, Bradberry respects Slay and appreciates his ability but isn’t about to project the duo as the best in the
NFC East, West, North or South.
“I mean, potential only gets you so far,” Bradberry said. “I don’t really want to speak on potential. I just know individually we’re pretty good. So, the goal is to be great together. … We haven’t played together yet and I’m still learning the scheme. As I continue to learn the scheme and as we continue to put the work in it will formulate itself at the end of the day.”
Make no mistake, Bradberry will be fired up to play the Giants twice, including one at Met-Life Stadium. Those won’t be the only games he wants to bring it, though, which is further proof of football IQ.
“I’m looking forward to every game we play next year,” Bradberry said. “Seventeen games, um, I know we must win a lot of them to make it to the playoffs so I’m looking forward to all the games that we play.”