Bradberry picks things up for ‘D’
At least one player is making Dave Gettleman look good.
James Bradberry, who became the third-highest paid cornerback in the NFL when he signed a three-year, $45 million deal on the first day of free agency this offseason, made the Giants’ investment look sound with a stellar performance in Sunday’s 17-13 loss to the Bears.
Keying the Giants’ near-comeback from a 17-point halftime deficit, Bradberry registered four passes defended — one deflection set up Julian Love’s third-quarter interception — and made his first pick of the season on a brilliant effort early in the fourth quarter, when he wrestled the ball from wide receiver Allen Robinson despite failing to see the throw being made.
“We just knew we had to make a play on defense,” said Bradberry, who had eight interceptions in four seasons with the Panthers. “We had to come out there, we had to stand up and make sure the offense knew that we had their back. We were going to get the ball back to them. Pretty much just a fighting mentality.”
The Giants were speeding toward an embarrassing blowout loss when Bradberry shifted momentum in the opening minutes of the third quarter, knocking a Mitch Trubisky pass in the air, which landed in Love’s arms at the Bears’ 25-yard line. Soon, the Giants had their first points with a Graham Gano field goal.
Then, with the Giants down a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the 27-year-old cornerback made one of the best plays of his career. With Bradberry’s back to Trubisky, the quarterback lofted a pass down the sideline to a leaping Robinson, who pulled in the ball, but quickly lost it after a well-timed strip by Bradberry.
“I felt the ball in the air — of course, I didn’t see it because I had my eyes on him — and I was going to make a play through his arms and I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time,” Bradberry said. “I was able to get one hand on it and pull it through as I came to the ground.”
Despite being the most accomplished player in the Giants secondary, Bradberry — the team’s only player with more than one pass defended on Sunday — said he wasn’t surprised that he was targeted so often. Robinson finished with three catches for 33 yards
“I mean, I was matched on their best receiver, their go-to guy, so you know in critical moments they’re going to go to their go-to guy,” Bradberry said. “Especially when you have a young quarterback, he wants to go to his playmaker.
“It’s whatever to me, I know I’m going to have my opportunities. I just know I have to make the most of my opportunities and my goal is to make sure he doesn’t have a catch at the end of the day.”