Minnesota Vikings quarterback Shaun Hill has been living the life of a backup for a majority of his 15-year career, but that is helping him as he deals with a whirlwind start to the 2016 season. Among the new faces are right tackle Jack Conklin, the eighth-overall draft choice and the first of nine 2016 draft picks who remain on the active roster; running backs DeMarco Murray (aquired in a trade) and Derrick Henry (one of three second-round picks); center Ben Jones (free agent); wide receivers Rishard Matthews (free agent), Andre Johnson (free agent) and Tajae Sharpe (fifth-round draft pick); and safety Rashad Johnson (free agent).
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Bradford will have been with the Vikings eight days when the team takes the field against the Titans.
Coach Mike Zimmer isn’t ready to declare a starting quarterback for the season opener.
But on further reflection, the designation of Hill as the starter makes sense. And even after he does decide, the coach said he would not reveal the answer until just before kickoff in Nashville. “I think concepts are the same, but it’s different terminology and things like that”. He lacks mobility. They quickly gave up a 2017 first-round pick and a conditional fourth pick to Philadelphia for former number-one pick quarterback Sam Bradford.
Wentz suffered a hairline rib fracture during the preseason, which at the time seemed to eliminate him from being an option for the Eagles’ first-year coach, Doug Pederson, if Bradford were to get hurt or struggle early in the season.
“It doesn’t mean that they don’t have confidence if they do something like that”, Hill said of the Bradford trade. He’ll have additional help in the passing game with the returning Kelvin Benjamin, who missed all of last season to injury.
“I’m much more comfortable than Sunday, that’s for sure, ” said Bradford, looking back at his first Minnesota practice.
It’s possible Hill gets that nod, but Bradford gets put in if the offense is struggling. Shurmur was Bradford’s offensive coordinator in both 2010 with the St. Louis Rams and in 2015 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
This time around, it could be Bradford taking a job that Hill seemed to be in line for when Bridgewater went down in practice on August 30.
“I would call it more of a shock”.
“I’m going to lead them”, Zimmer said. “That’s just the way I’ve always approached it and that’s the way it’s worked for me”. “When I watch TV, I watch Disney Junior”, said the father of two young children. But I cant tell you if thats going to be the case or not.. “I stay right in my lane”.
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Talking to the press after Monday’s practice, Bradford admitted that he must adjust to his new environment, and fast.
