In a somewhat puzzling turn of events, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has cancelled a press conference scheduled for 6:30 ET this evening.
Head coach Bob Stoops said this afternoon that Bradford needed more time before making a decision. It’s unclear if he was speaking about a decision to undergo surgery or a decision to announce his intentions for 21.
Earlier this afternoon, ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad reported that there was a very good chance that Bradford would announce this evening that he was undergoing season-ending surgery.
SoonerScoop.com reported that Bradford would indeed announce that he was undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.
Stoops is expected to address the Bradford situation following this evening’s practice.
Bradford made a huge mistake coming back. I can’t imagine any team, no matter how desperate, taking him in the first round.
Those who told him the money would still be there were dead wrong. His decision to stay in school has likely cost him tens of millions of dollars.
I think his heart was in the right place, but he rolled the dice and they came up snake eyes.
“I can’t imagine any team, no matter how desperate, taking him in the first round.”
Huh?
One of the best QB’s in college football over the last few years, and he’s not going to go anywhere in the first round? Shoulder injuries are a dime a dozen, I don’t think the fact he is injured now is going to make a significant impact on team’s draft-day decisions.
Hey JP,
Dude, you need to get off the sauce. Bradford is toast, and you’re the only one who hasn’t figured that out.
# JP says: October 21, 2009 7:03 PM ET
I hope you’re right. I’m an OU Fan, but unlike you I’m a realist. Who will want to pay millions for a guy who has suffered not one, but two significant injuries on his throwing shoulder. Thinking injuries like this are ” a dime a dozen” simply defies logic.
He could have been a top three pick at the 09 Draft, but he’ll be lucky to go late first now.
While Bradford’s shoulder injury is mos def a concern…I think he still ends up going in the first time. If he DOES opt for surgery he will have sufficient time to get ready for the pre-draft tour that will begin the over analyzing process on EVERY draft prospect. At the end of the day ..scouts will question two things….
1. Durability
2. His thin stature.
He’ll show up sufficiently bigger thanks to an agent throwing him into some ‘pre-draft camp’ with other highly touted prospects, and when they watch the film over and over and over again…they’ll see the talent and he’ll get drafted. It’s not like he tore his rotator cuff…he’ll be fine.
-PhxTim
I am by no means an OU fan, but I have two words for all of you concerned about a shoulder…..Drew Brees!!
The gamble wasn’t totally stupid – the more starts a QB has in college, the more likley he is to be successful in the pros… it’s not just about draft position – he was thinking of his whole career. Of course if he knew he’d get busted up this season he’d have come out last year but nobody could have known that.
His shoulder is a HUGE issue for the NFL, don’t be fooled. Drew Brees was already in the league and had shown he was successful in the NFL. There is a big difference between Brees and Bradford. At the NFL level, Bradford has proven nothing and to add an injury on top of that, it will diminish his value greatly. There could be some very desperate team that really wants a QB that will take him in the first round to make sure they get him, if they are that high on him.
Financially, he took a huge hit but, if he performs, as a second round pick, he will eventually get some of that back. Being a second rounder would also take some of the pressure off him which, often at times, is too much for rookies. It could be to his career benefit.
Separated shoulder or not, Bradford is still the top QB prospect in college football. He is a top 10 pick, if not top 5, regardless.
Tebow? This jagoff won’t even play QB at the NFL level and the only team who should even consider drafting him before the 4th round is the Jags and that is as a pure marketing decision.
McCoy? He shot up the boards because of his uncanny accuracy last year and ability to extend plays. Well, his accuracy has been poor this season and the ability to extend plays is not in itself a reason to give someone top 5 money.
How about this scenario for Bradford? He has shoulder surgery ending his season but comes back for another year. Gresham is gone but the o-line and WRs have a year under their belts and OU re-emerges as a national title contender.
Bradford would be the #1 overall pick.