“There was blood in the water, and teams knew it”, Spielman said. Listed in the backup slot behind Hill is quarterback Sam Bradford, who the Vikings acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles last Saturday. Per the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, Bradford doesn’t see how it can’t be now. “If it’s Shaun, it’s Shaun”.
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Incidentally, Bradford too was a first round draft pick way back in 2010. He has only started 34 games throughout his career but has played in a total of 46. Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer explained what Bradford’s first four days in Minnesota were like. Chase Daniel is the only other quarterback left on their roster. The Vikings have tried to combat this by acquiring veteran Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, if Bradford can learn enough of the Vikings’ playbook over the next three days, then Zimmer might let him start the game.
In the same story from Orr, Zimmer admitted that he’s added a new task to his coaching duties: tying Bridgewater’s shoes. The Bradford trade gives the Vikings an above average quarterback that could lead the Vikings into the playoffs because of the great team around him, especially if he plays like he did in the second half of the season.
Mularkey also said that he’s expecting Bradford to get the start, in part because “I think they wouldn’t give up a 1 and a 4 [draft picks] to have a guy sit [on the bench] very long”, Mularkey said. Just a harmless prank to mess with his quarterback who can’t really do anything about it. “I would anticipate (Bradford starts), and if he doesn’t, it’s not going to change how we prepare”.
In the middle of the piece, in what mistakenly could read as a throwaway line, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman admits the unknown nature about the serious nature of Bridgewater’s frightening knee injury. I don’t turn on the television other than Disney Junior for my kids. He said he likes what he has seen from Bradford on the field so far. “I try to stay below the radar on all that stuff”. “I keep that same narrow focus throughout the whole season, whether I’m playing or not”.
“I think all the pressure is on us”, Boone said, via Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Asked if starting the game following a short stretch of preparation could have any adverse effects on his confidence going forward, Bradford said, “I’ve been through quite a few ups and downs in this league”.
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Don’t be surprised if the Vikings end up having a very similar season to the year that they had in 2015. During Kelly’s three years in Philadelphia, players like Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Bradford posted markedly better numbers than they ever did in any other system across their respective National Football League stops.
