Is Sam Bradford Done with the St. Louis Rams?
By Erik Lambert
Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is helped off the field after getting injury in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
It’s important not to jump to conclusions, but if his latest knee injury is bad, could that spell the end of Sam Bradford with the St. Louis Rams?
Injury to repaired knee against Cleveland Browns could be final straw
Some guys have all the luck. What some forget to add to that statement is that it can be either good or bad. For Bradford, he has never been able to catch a break at the NFL level. His career started out with a bevy of changes to his coaching staff, creating all sorts of problems with his development in an offensive system. Then when he finally had stability, more issues surfaced with his pass protection and receivers. Once that problems started to get resolved, he tore his ACL last season. Finally, through all of that, it looked like 2014 was going to be the year he fulfills his status as a #1 overall pick. It didn’t take long for those visions to fade away as Rams fans watched him limp off the field favoring his surgically repaired knee. Is this latest setback the one that finally puts him down for the count in St. Louis?
Jeff Fisher and Les Snead know they’ve been patient long enough
It’s important not to jump to conclusions. The injury may not be too severe but the picture is all too clear if it is. Head coach Jeff Fisher has remained extraordinarily patient with Bradford since taking over the team, considering he wasn’t the one who drafted him. That was made clear when he and GM Les Snead bypassed taking a quarterback despite holding not one but two first round picks. It was a leap of faith that they hoped Bradford would reward. While he has no control over injuries, the fact is the St. Louis Rams can no longer justify his $17 million salary cap figure.
If he is done for 2014, then Sam Bradford won’t be in St. Louis next year.