John Rohde: Don't second-guess Sam Bradford's decision
BY JOHN ROHDE
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137
Published: October 18, 2009
DALLAS — Don't dare do it.
Don't say, "I told you so" to anyone who'll listen.
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"I told you he should have gone pro after last season."
"I told you he shouldn't have tried to come back after getting hurt."
"I told you he should have had surgery."
Don't second-guess Sam Bradford.
Keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to hear it, read it or see it, particularly Bradford.
Besides, he deserves better treatment than that.
When Oklahoma's junior quarterback separated his right shoulder against Brigham Young, everybody suddenly thought they were Bradford's coach, his doctor, his father, or all the above.
Bradford is well-provided for in all these matters, so hands off.
Bradford re-injured the shoulder in Saturday's 16-13 loss to Texas, which already has many of you repeating yourselves.
Please stop before you start.
Instead, pray for two things: 1. A healthy recovery; 2. For people keep their traps shut as to what Bradford should do or should have done.
Bradford lasted just eight plays Saturday morning before being sacked by blitzing nickel back Aaron Williams.
"We're really sorry for Sam that he got hurt," Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. "What a great kid and a great player."
We are now back in a holding pattern with Bradford.
His future is uncertain. He doesn't know when he'll return, or under what circumstance.
He doesn't know, so you couldn't possibly know, so don't bother pretending you know.
Back off and give the kid some space.
We're about to get the exact same answers to the exact same questions from a month ago.
Been there, done that. Asked and answered.
During Saturday's post-game interview, Bradford was asked if this was his last OU-Texas game.
"I really can't answer that," Bradford said. "I'm not sure. I'll have to make that decision at the end of this year."
As was the case before, Bradford will explore his medical options and go from there.
When there is more news to share, Sooners coach Bob Stoops will share it.
It was the proper way to handle this matter before, and it's the proper way to handle it again.
"We were going with good information from doctors," Stoops said. "He understood the entire situation. Sam is a bright young guy. He knows what he wants, and unfortunately it just hasn't worked out very well."
From multiple accounts, Bradford was primed and ready Saturday.
"I saw him throw the prettiest 60-yard pass to finish our warm up as I've seen him throw," Stoops said.
Bradford spotted OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson beforehand and said, "It's going to be a great day."
"I know he was really excited to play," Wilson said. "He's played well in great games and to not have a chance to finish it, that's unfortunate."
Wilson said the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner "has been unbelievably impressive, just the way he's gone about his business working and carrying himself, the things he gives us off the field that you guys (media) don't see. An unbelievable player ... he's been a blessing to have for our football team."
There is a chance Bradford's collegiate career ended on the 34-yard line inside Cotton Bowl stadium.
Then again, maybe not.
Until we found out what the answer is, please fight the urge to repeat yourself.
Don't dare do it.
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 6-7 p.m. on The Sports Animal Network, including AM-640 and FM-98.
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The NFL won't be there if his shoulder is torn up. Further, there is a huge physical price to be paid for playing football at a high level. You shouldn't pay that price for free if you don't have to.
Further, yes college is nice, but it is a means to an end. You don't go to college to peak in life as BMOC. You go to college to get somewhere as an adult. He can always go back and get his degree, assuming he hasn't already got it. Some day Bradford will be old, no longer a football star, and maybe suffering the physical effects of being one. He needs to make his money while he can to prepare for that day. As far as money not buying happiness, that is a judgment more easily made if you have money.
3-3 ...boomer
Sam Bradford won OU and Heisman and took them to two BCS bowls. He has made the school millions. He owes them absolutely nothing. It was an absured decision for him to come back and play. Life is short and football careers are shorter. When you have a chance to make your fortune, you take it. I am sorry it worked out this way for Bradford. He seems like a great kid. But, it was obscenely stupid of him to come back to school this year.
3-3 ...boomer
He is a fact, in this game, when they are done using you for what you can do for the team, they are through with you.
Keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to hear it, read it or see it, particularly Bradford." When I read this article I didn't know whether to respond with anger or laughter. I guess you could say I chuckled with disgust. John Rhode has the gaul to write and article to tell the public not to second guess Sam Bradford after he wrote His article back in September (10th I believe) doing just that. Second guessing the Bradford family, publicly, in this newspaper. Now he is hiding behind a warning to the public that they do not have the right to say "I told you so". A cheap (chicken) shot for John Rhode to say "I told you so," Pretty low stuff right there.
Losers.
Are you kiding? If I'm not mistaken it was YOU who wrote an article after the first injury saying Bradford should hang 'em up for the year.
OH, yeah, and JASON...you bite.
What did I say 3-3!!
...boomer
They won't be in one.
Don't mess with the Texas D!
One of the risks media members such as yourself take in becoming as cozy as you are with the subjects you cover is that you begin to wrongly presume status and closeness with your subjects. You come off almost creepy in the way you've positioned yourself as the "father-knows-best" gatekeeper to this very newsworthy subject.
Take a step back, Rohde. You seem a bit too close to the picture.
A 50% completion ratio (only because of telegraphed swing passes) and minus yards rushing. Nice offensive combinations for winning football.
I don't have a problem with Bradford coming back when not fully healed, he's a competitor. What I have a problem with is a coaching staff with the collective heads stuck up their rearends. Nice job coaches, don't let your backup quarterback prepare when you know Bradford is capable of going out on any play and it's not like UT is not going to blitz, no they don't do that and try to put him on the ground every chance they get. Let's see, UT blitzes a large percentage of the time in past games, a woefully inept offensive line trying to protect your bell cow. No, Mac is going be a true sportsmand and call the dogs off. No reason at all for out coaching staff to think they are going to blitz.
What's really sad about this is Bradford FELL on his shoulder with only his weight and the defender hanging onto his waist. This was not the driving hit like BYU. The coaches knew Bradford wasn't healed and this outcome had a signficant chance of happening, yet you don't have the back up ready. Nice Job, Excellent Job. We have the best coaching staff in America.
Get healthy Sam, do what it takes in the time period it takes and prepare for your NFL career. Your time at OU is done and we thank you for it.
him in this situation.Money is not everything,health is and he gets it.
Hopefully Mr. Bradford will re-evaluate his sitation and make lemonaide out of this lemon.
JOHN ROHDE - More people should have told him so!!! I understand his desire to come back and play, as he is a great competitor, however no matter how you candy coat it, it was a foolish decision... risking his professional career and millions of dollars. And, I'm sure that he wasn't receiving any sincere advice from the OU coaches to consider his career. Furthermore, I'm tired of hearing from selfish OU homers such as yourself, who care nothing for Bradford, but for preserving OU's precious season and unrealistic goals to win a championship.
Sooners (players, coaches, fans) it is time to move on! Jones is a great quarterback that has more than proven himself. He made some mistakes, but played well overall, despite being tossed aside to allow an unhealthy Bradford play in one of the biggest games this year. Who knows what had happened if Jones had actually been prepared.
So Mr. Rohde, allow me to tell you on behalf of the real sports world, YOU CAN SHUT YOUR TRAP!
Stay or Leave. You are special thanks for the memories. Get Healthy.
Rhode
You must have mental issues. How many articles have you written questioning Sam's decission a number of times in your articles.
The very best for Sam Bradford in whatever endeavors he follows throughout his life. He'll do well at whatever he focuses in on.
El Presidente, Deer Creek
Neither team should be proud of what happened today.
If I was voting in the polls I would drop Texas due to their play and not being able to beat a team that couldn't beat BYU or Miami. LOL
Want to watch some real football? Go watch the SEC. They play real football. Remember who has won the last 3 NCs?
Get real, OU is pathetic and Texas didn't prove much today.
There are a lot of OU fans that are tired of the way the Sooner football team has been coached and tired of the embarrassment of the bowl losses.
Evidently you don't share this embarrassment and love the way the sooners have performed and want more of it.
You will get more losses because of the recruiting that these coaches have done to keep up the OU Sooner tradition which they have disgraced.
Enjoy it as a Sooner fan that clearly has his head in the sand.
WAKE UP OU FANS. THESE COACHES ARE A DISGRACE TO OU FOOTBALL!!
To John Rohde, I may be, one of the only people to state this, but thank you for writing this article. I believe you make several good points. Most of the people who comment about what Sam should have and should not have done, don't know Sam. For what Sam wants, and what his dreams are, in my opinion he made the right choice. No one, could have accurately predicted the events to follow from that. Anyone can speculate all they want about the millions of dollars that decision may or may not have cost him. In the end, there is so much more to this life than money, and Sam understands that, unlike some people.
To all those thinking about jumping ship, now seems like a pretty good time as any. I hear Texas, Florida, and OSU are looking for new fans. I can assure you, that all those who jump now, will not be to terribly missed. In the meantime I will continue to root for OU, and look forward to the exciting things Coach Stoops and company has in store for Oklahoma! Boomer Sooner!
As bad as we played we still should have won! Bottom line we should have won! We out played them, but they didn't make the mistakes like we did!! Boomer Sooner -
I predicted flat out that Bradford would indeed reinjure his shoulder during this very game AND that OU would lose. NO! I am not a Longhorn fan OR a diehard OU fan. I am a realist!
Bradford was not ready to come back and he pressed his luck. I certainly wish him the very best.
BUT... When you say: "Besides, he deserves better treatment than that."
Listen up John! He "deserves" nothing more than anyone else gets!
And when you say: "Instead, pray for two things: 1. A healthy recovery; 2. For people keep their traps shut as to what Bradford should do or should have done."
What gives YOU the right to instruct ANYBODY as to PRAY... OR... What to pray for?
I'll pray that YOU keep YOUR trap shut and that SOME DAY... This newspaper will get some REAL Sports Writers and Columnists!