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I thought it was a pretty decent article; sounds like Sam is excited and feeling more confident
It wasn’t exactly Chris Rock or Louis C.K., and I don’t think we’ll see the Rams’ starting quarterback dropping in to do a comedy set during an open-mike night at the Funny Bone.
But when meeting with reporters at Rams Park on Wednesday, Sam Bradford was more relaxed and playful than we’ve ever seen him since he was drafted by the Rams in 2010.
Bradford greeted the media with some good-natured sarcasm.
“Oh, man, yeah — I’ve looked forward to the regular season for so long, and this is definitely the main reason,” he said, smiling. “Just getting to talk to you guys is definitely the highlight of my week.”
The Rams open the season Sunday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. When Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas asked Bradford a question about the contents of the Rams’ real playbook compared to the “vanilla” approach during the preseason, Sam jumped in with some straight-up deadpan.
“What we’ve ran in the preseason is exactly what we’re going to run in the game,” he said. “Those are the only plays we’ve got in the playbook.”
Turning to TV reporters, Bradford asked that they send a video of his comments to Arizona.
No, it isn’t quite up to the level of Jerry Seinfeld, but interesting to see Bradford so loose and upbeat.
In his personal life, Bradford may be as funny as Dave Chapelle. I mean, who really knows? When someone snapped photos of him at a music festival in California a couple of summers ago, it was startling to see Bradford wearing a garish sweater, keeping company with a super model and looking like a care-free frat boy on spring break.
Around Rams Park — at least based on what outsiders see — it would be an exaggeration to describe Bradford’s personality as “bland.” He always looks like a guy studying for an SAT. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; you want an all-business quarterback who takes his work seriously.
Besides, it’s not as if Bradford has had many reasons to smile and yuck it up over the past three seasons. Except on payday.
Think about Bradford’s existence from 2010 through 2012. Losing games. Getting pounded by stampeding defensive ends and runaway blitzers. Having to learn three offenses in three years. Protected by a revolving door at tackle. Throwing to an ever-changing cast of pedestrian receivers. Working for two head coaches and three coordinators. Being called a “bust” by impatient critics.
Hey, wouldn’t you be frowning, or at least a little grumpy?
But as the Rams get ready for the first test of 2013, Bradford can hardly conceal his enthusiasm. This is what happens when an organization finally swings into aggressive action to put a young quarterback in position to perform at a higher level.
Over the past two offseasons GM Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher have ratcheted up the speed, enhanced the talent and put more playmakers in Bradford’s huddle.
The Rams will be very young and inexperienced at the so-called skill positions. Their primary running backs are age 23 or younger. The oldest wide receiver is 25. The most senior tight end is 26.
Bradford’s running backs and wideouts have combined to make 19 NFL starts — and 12 were turned in by one player, second-year WR Chris Givens.
There will be growing pains, for sure. But where Bradford stands, this is preferable to physical and mental pain ... the frustration that comes with trying to run a restricted, talent-deficient offense.
“I’m ready to go,” Bradford said. “I’m ready to see these young guys out there. They’ve put in a lot of time. They’ve done a great job learning the system so far. I think they’ve made tremendous strides. We had a great training camp. It’s going to be really fun to see those guys get out there and light it up on Sunday.”
When asked what it’s like to suddenly have so many playmaking options at his disposal, Bradford seemed ready to play Sunday’s game — right then and there.
He’s pumped by Givens’ longball dimension, thrilled by the elusiveness of first-round draft choice Tavon Austin, and excited by the height, long arms and downfield capability of flex tight end Jared Cook. He sees faster running backs and an improved slot receiver in Austin Pettis. And Bradford has a new bodyguard in former Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.
“The biggest thing (the receivers) all have in common is speed,” Bradford said. “We’ve got all different shapes and sizes of guys who are able to make plays now. It’s really fun as a quarterback to drop back and know that with (the receivers) running routes, I’ve got someone who, if I get the ball into their hands, there’s a possibility that they could break a tackle and create an explosive play. It just opens up a lot of different options, things that we haven’t had in the past.”
It’s been written and stated — many times — that this is a “make or break” season for Bradford. False. The Rams are committed to him.
GM Snead gushed over Bradford in an interview with ESPN. “I love the guy,” Snead said. “Jacked about him. It’s an understatement that you can’t go find people of his makeup, smarts and talent. They just don’t come around.”
It sounds good, but Bradford must raise his game in 2013. He needs to be better on third down. He has to make quicker decisions. He has to break away from the conservative ways of the past by taking more chances down the field. And he must be sharper and more accurate.
Reasonable people understand that it wasn’t a fair fight for Bradford in his first three seasons. But more will be expected from him now — a lot more. The expectations are way up.
The adventure begins Sunday, and it’s a new beginning for Bradford and the Rams’ offense. He’s smiling now. And the Rams can only hope that he’ll still be smiling at the end of the season.
It wasn’t exactly Chris Rock or Louis C.K., and I don’t think we’ll see the Rams’ starting quarterback dropping in to do a comedy set during an open-mike night at the Funny Bone.
But when meeting with reporters at Rams Park on Wednesday, Sam Bradford was more relaxed and playful than we’ve ever seen him since he was drafted by the Rams in 2010.
Bradford greeted the media with some good-natured sarcasm.
“Oh, man, yeah — I’ve looked forward to the regular season for so long, and this is definitely the main reason,” he said, smiling. “Just getting to talk to you guys is definitely the highlight of my week.”
The Rams open the season Sunday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. When Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas asked Bradford a question about the contents of the Rams’ real playbook compared to the “vanilla” approach during the preseason, Sam jumped in with some straight-up deadpan.
“What we’ve ran in the preseason is exactly what we’re going to run in the game,” he said. “Those are the only plays we’ve got in the playbook.”
Turning to TV reporters, Bradford asked that they send a video of his comments to Arizona.
No, it isn’t quite up to the level of Jerry Seinfeld, but interesting to see Bradford so loose and upbeat.
In his personal life, Bradford may be as funny as Dave Chapelle. I mean, who really knows? When someone snapped photos of him at a music festival in California a couple of summers ago, it was startling to see Bradford wearing a garish sweater, keeping company with a super model and looking like a care-free frat boy on spring break.
Around Rams Park — at least based on what outsiders see — it would be an exaggeration to describe Bradford’s personality as “bland.” He always looks like a guy studying for an SAT. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; you want an all-business quarterback who takes his work seriously.
Besides, it’s not as if Bradford has had many reasons to smile and yuck it up over the past three seasons. Except on payday.
Think about Bradford’s existence from 2010 through 2012. Losing games. Getting pounded by stampeding defensive ends and runaway blitzers. Having to learn three offenses in three years. Protected by a revolving door at tackle. Throwing to an ever-changing cast of pedestrian receivers. Working for two head coaches and three coordinators. Being called a “bust” by impatient critics.
Hey, wouldn’t you be frowning, or at least a little grumpy?
But as the Rams get ready for the first test of 2013, Bradford can hardly conceal his enthusiasm. This is what happens when an organization finally swings into aggressive action to put a young quarterback in position to perform at a higher level.
Over the past two offseasons GM Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher have ratcheted up the speed, enhanced the talent and put more playmakers in Bradford’s huddle.
The Rams will be very young and inexperienced at the so-called skill positions. Their primary running backs are age 23 or younger. The oldest wide receiver is 25. The most senior tight end is 26.
Bradford’s running backs and wideouts have combined to make 19 NFL starts — and 12 were turned in by one player, second-year WR Chris Givens.
There will be growing pains, for sure. But where Bradford stands, this is preferable to physical and mental pain ... the frustration that comes with trying to run a restricted, talent-deficient offense.
“I’m ready to go,” Bradford said. “I’m ready to see these young guys out there. They’ve put in a lot of time. They’ve done a great job learning the system so far. I think they’ve made tremendous strides. We had a great training camp. It’s going to be really fun to see those guys get out there and light it up on Sunday.”
When asked what it’s like to suddenly have so many playmaking options at his disposal, Bradford seemed ready to play Sunday’s game — right then and there.
He’s pumped by Givens’ longball dimension, thrilled by the elusiveness of first-round draft choice Tavon Austin, and excited by the height, long arms and downfield capability of flex tight end Jared Cook. He sees faster running backs and an improved slot receiver in Austin Pettis. And Bradford has a new bodyguard in former Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.
“The biggest thing (the receivers) all have in common is speed,” Bradford said. “We’ve got all different shapes and sizes of guys who are able to make plays now. It’s really fun as a quarterback to drop back and know that with (the receivers) running routes, I’ve got someone who, if I get the ball into their hands, there’s a possibility that they could break a tackle and create an explosive play. It just opens up a lot of different options, things that we haven’t had in the past.”
It’s been written and stated — many times — that this is a “make or break” season for Bradford. False. The Rams are committed to him.
GM Snead gushed over Bradford in an interview with ESPN. “I love the guy,” Snead said. “Jacked about him. It’s an understatement that you can’t go find people of his makeup, smarts and talent. They just don’t come around.”
It sounds good, but Bradford must raise his game in 2013. He needs to be better on third down. He has to make quicker decisions. He has to break away from the conservative ways of the past by taking more chances down the field. And he must be sharper and more accurate.
Reasonable people understand that it wasn’t a fair fight for Bradford in his first three seasons. But more will be expected from him now — a lot more. The expectations are way up.
The adventure begins Sunday, and it’s a new beginning for Bradford and the Rams’ offense. He’s smiling now. And the Rams can only hope that he’ll still be smiling at the end of the season.
