Sam Bradford's a Viking

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Again you can have your opinion just be ready to eat some crow for all the hating you are doing.

I'll be with ready to crow if necessary, but I am with Paul on this one.

Fusco isn't elite or even above average. Which, is fine - for now. However, this team should really be in the market to seriously overhaul this offensive line this following season.

[VikingPaul73]

He hasn't looked nearly as bad. He's also another year removed from the pec injury and presumably has his strength back. I would've preferred he battle with Harris for the job but I'm not nearly as worried about him at RG as I am about Smith at RT.

Well, hopefully you are right. But even if he does return to form I don't see him as a big upgrade over Harris from last year. And that's *if* he returns to form.

I guess I just don't understand the hype/optimism about this "revamped" OL from both the media and VMB. Last year was atrocious, and Boone is the only clear improvement that I see. I guess I should just be happy that maybe Boone will improve it to the point of merely being really bad instead of total debacle?

[Mothman]

This is where I always get stuck with you. See, since 2009 you've had the benefit of having one of he best QBs in football. His GM designed his offense to have multiple great receivers and despite what you think about his O-line, his sacks have usually been because he was waiting to make a play, not because his line was practically useless 30% of the time.

You have been conditioned to believe that statistics tell the whole story. You seemingly have little foundation for putting statistics into perspective, because for years you have had the best QB in the league and the numbers have said so as well. But truly, you have no idea what it's like to have a QB trying to cover the faults of an atrocious O-line, a WR corps where a 5th round rookie is the leader, and a RB who struggles with receiving and pass protection.

For some of us, it feels like you struggle to contextualize, and it's increasingly frustrating.

For what it's worth, I don't know if I agree or disagree with you that Bradford can at least be as good as Bridgewater would have been this year, but I find your argument to be poopie.

I think Jordy's contextualizing just fine. Rodgers has definitely played behind some poor pass blocking lines in Green Bay and over the years he's done a lot to help raise the level of performance around him.

Bridgewater is too often portrayed as a victim, his poor production excused and blame put on everybody around him. His teammates have had to make up for his shortcomings at least as much as he's had to make up for theirs. Peterson's been fine as a receiver (5th on the team last year behind the top 3 WRs and Rudolph). He's certainly not the best pass-catching RB in the league but typically not a liability to his QB either. He's been okay as a pass blocker for years too and he's usually not on the field in obvious passing situations anyway. He actually had to carry a heavy load last year to make up for a poor passing game. He covered more faults than anybody else on the team in 2015.

Bridgewater did, indeed, play behind a poor o-line last season but he had a tendency to complicate that issue by holding the ball too long, being indecisive, etc.. His faults made his o-line look worse at times just as their faults made him look worse. The same give-and-take was evident at WR. For example, the strength of Wallace's game was literally neutralized by his QB's inability to hit him deep. shortcomings in Wallace's game hurt the offense at times too.

Bridgewater was the central piece in one of the league's least productive passing games and as Jordy appears to be saying, those two facts are deeply connected. He's not wrong about that.

Statistics don't tell the whole story but I don't get the impression Jordy thinks otherwise. He has a legitimate point.

[CbusVikesFan]

Well, we have hoodwinked. Is anyone lathered up at the fact that the buQB situation could have been addressed in the last 3 years and it has not? We could have drafted McCarron for a song and as I see it he is better than Hill, Bradford, and Bridgewater. Idk what the scouts, coaches, FO look at to evaluate QB's but they should #### the whole process because its not worth a fiddlers damn.
Now that being said I will be interested in seeing if Norv is going to open up the playbook and chuck it deep on play action. Now that there is someone that can actually accomplish that task I am hoping that this offense will be more potent with Bradford. Shouldn't take a lot.

[Mothman]

Well, we have hoodwinked. Is anyone lathered up at the fact that the buQB situation could have been addressed in the last 3 years and it has not?

You know I am. I've been complaining about it for years.

We could have drafted McCarron for a song and as I see it he is better than Hill, Bradford, and Bridgewater. Idk what the scouts, coaches, FO look at to evaluate QB's but they should #### the whole process because its not worth a fiddlers damn.
Now that being said I will be interested in seeing if Norv is going to open up the playbook and chuck it deep on play action. Now that there is someone that can actually accomplish that task I am hoping that this offense will be more potent with Bradford. Shouldn't take a lot.

I share that hope. I hope we see it happen.

[FillyFanatic]

Oldie but a goodie. Sam Bradford Rams highlight tape "All passes over 15 yards". Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLDkYravNA

[Funkytown]

Drew Boylhart @DrewBoylhart

#Viking Fans, More undrafted free agents on NFL rosters today (481) than 1st- and 2nd-round picks combined (480), per Elias & AdamSchefter

[dead_poet]

Well, hopefully you are right. But even if he does return to form I don't see him as a big upgrade over Harris from last year. And that's *if* he returns to form.

I guess I just don't understand the hype/optimism about this "revamped" OL from both the media and VMB. Last year was atrocious, and Boone is the only clear improvement that I see. I guess I should just be happy that maybe Boone will improve it to the point of merely being really bad instead of total debacle?

The hype was before Loadholt retired, the addition of Boone, Sully anticipated to be back healthy, Fusco back to his normal position and battling Harris (who was average or marginally above), before Harris' whatever illness.

A lot has changed since the hype.

[vikeinmontana]

moves like this are always fascinating on this board. I guess in all of sports. It's funny how some can be so convinced this is an awful move, while others seem to think we're superbowl contenders with Bradford. I guess I fall in the middle as I usually do with maybe the edge leaning towards this being a good move.

statistically we just don't lose much if anything swapping teddy with sam. I like teddy, I really do. and I liked when we drafted him. I didn't write him off immediately like some but I wasn't declaring superbowl titles either. he seems to be improving which is all we can ask for a young kid. and I know he's entering the "magical" 3rd year that everyone assumes a qb just goes off. and maybe he would have. but that's as much of a sure thing as a first round pick being an automatic star. that's not a sure thing either.

here's what I do know. Bradford played all but 2 games last year as a starter. two less than teddy. he would have started for the eagles on sunday had he not been traded. his numbers are right on par with teddy basically across the board...only a little better. he threw for 500 more yards and 5 more td's despite playing two less games. he did have 5 more picks though. their completion percentage and passer rating is about identical. same was sacked 28 times to teddy's 44.(both way too many)

the fact is, if we were truly a playoff team and possibly a superbowl contender last week, then I think we have to be this week too. we still have the best runner in the league and a top 5 defense. we need a guy with experience to manage the game. I think if Bradford stays healthy like last year, and limits the risk, we are looking at a playoff team again. and once you're in...who knows what can happen!

I get that the price is steep. and it is. but next years first rounder isn't a lock either. we miss on draft picks all the time. I personally commend this front office for making such a bold move in hopes of winning. we probably got the best qb we could have gotten a week before the season starts. and maybe we paid too much. but maybe we didn't. why bother getting worked up about things that may never even happen?!

we are a better team with sam Bradford as qb than we are with shaun hill as qb. and if this is the move we needed to make to be a contender i'm all for it. Bradford is a Viking. he's on my team. he has my full support.

[Norv Zimmer]

moves like this are always fascinating on this board. I guess in all of sports. It's funny how some can be so convinced this is an awful move, while others seem to think we're superbowl contenders with Bradford. I guess I fall in the middle as I usually do with maybe the edge leaning towards this being a good move.

statistically we just don't lose much if anything swapping teddy with sam. I like teddy, I really do. and I liked when we drafted him. I didn't write him off immediately like some but I wasn't declaring superbowl titles either. he seems to be improving which is all we can ask for a young kid. and I know he's entering the "magical" 3rd year that everyone assumes a qb just goes off. and maybe he would have. but that's as much of a sure thing as a first round pick being an automatic star. that's not a sure thing either.

here's what I do know. Bradford played all but 2 games last year as a starter. two less than teddy. he would have started for the eagles on sunday had he not been traded. his numbers are right on par with teddy basically across the board...only a little better. he threw for 500 more yards and 5 more td's despite playing two less games. he did have 5 more picks though. their completion percentage and passer rating is about identical. same was sacked 28 times to teddy's 44.(both way too many)

the fact is, if we were truly a playoff team and possibly a superbowl contender last week, then I think we have to be this week too. we still have the best runner in the league and a top 5 defense. we need a guy with experience to manage the game. I think if Bradford stays healthy like last year, and limits the risk, we are looking at a playoff team again. and once you're in...who knows what can happen!

I get that the price is steep. and it is. but next years first rounder isn't a lock either. we miss on draft picks all the time. I personally commend this front office for making such a bold move in hopes of winning. we probably got the best qb we could have gotten a week before the season starts. and maybe we paid too much. but maybe we didn't. why bother getting worked up about things that may never even happen?!

we are a better team with sam Bradford as qb than we are with shaun hill as qb. and if this is the move we needed to make to be a contender i'm all for it. Bradford is a Viking. he's on my team. he has my full support.

Nice post, I fully agree. And if you watch the video on you tube titled something like.2015 eagles drops. It shows a lot of dropped passes and passes that go.right through the recievers hands into defenders hands. Watching that video there are atleast 3 or 4 balls that recievers tipped to defenders. His interception total should be lower imo.

[IrishViking]

Hi everyone,

Well damn, I missed the party, lets see what we got here... All the lemmings off the cliff? Good, good. Several drunk fans in the corner slur cheering for Bradwater?... or was that Bridgeford... hmmm interesting. And there's Jordyghost on his ... is he trolling or consoling? Even he looks confused! You three put Jim down and step away from the volcano ! Someone mop up these tears, put out that dumpster fire... Oh that's Winter Park? Nevermind let it burn, its better that way. Now lets walk this whole thing back.


Lets just get it out of the way. This sucks , Teddy's injury sucks. Yeah sure we can play the nice human card first of "don't want this to happen to anyone, he's such a good person, etc" Bottom line is we wanted him to win football games and he wont do that for us this year. That just sucks.

Obviously we all had our person preferences on how this could have played out. Seems like most of us didn't get exactly what we wanted. Personally, I think blaming Jim is a little premature, given that as long as we have all been Vikings fans they have never won a Superbowl. Actually come to think of it, this might be all my fault. I remember hoping a few years ago that someday we got to see what Bradford could do on our team. Into the Volcano with me!

So, what? We overpaid? Lets see how we overpaid. Lets assume that Bradford gets injured early on. First play of the season, bam... legs get knocked clean off... literally. Welp, hes out for at least the rest of the season boom total mission failure. Who can you possibly blame for that though? It could happen at any time to anyone, we got an extremely painful lesson in that less than two weeks ago. So lets assume of the sake of the argument that he doesn't get trashed by an injury, which again, is a random chance and we cant do much about it. Lets say he has a season sorta like last year. If that happens, assuming Strength of schedule, what teddy produced last year and what not... plug in the numbers... carry the 3...

Looks like we probably make the playoffs! That raises his stock. We suddenly have two playoff QBs on the roster. Who do we keep becomes the issue, which is a scary one, I feel you on that what if we lose Teddy... that would suck or what if we trade Bradford and he wins 2 superbowls. That would suck too. But who makes that call? the team that in this scenario made the right call and got Bradford on the team in the first place. This is a very very strong position to be in.

Now, what if he has a middling season and we go 7-9 or 8-8 or something. Well that will suck and that would be worse case minus say injury. But even then. There is a draft for the reason. I assure you. Teams will blow this year. a team might go 0-16 or a bunch of starters might go down... Or Tony Romo could be struck by the direct rays of the sun and break his collar bone. Teams will need a QB. And Bradford is decentish, even if he has a subpar year. We will unload him to someone and while we wouldn't recoup our 1st we could probably get a high 2nd if Slick Rick gets his way. So what, we lost 20 places on the draft board to take a shot to be a contender this year. Its not a bad gamble. I can see why some wouldn't want it but its not bad. Its not a bad worst case.

Or you know we could have the best case scenario and win the Superbowl which then we have the best worst problem you could have. In that case they might get creative. Trim AP's salary or trade him to keep SB and TB on the roster for a year or so. Could you imagine the insane value EITHER would have at the trade deadline if an injury occurred in season? Its a fun fantasy and highly unlikely but its about as likely as Bradford crippling himself this season.

There are some facts to be considered. Bradford produces more than Bridgewater. Period. Its an empirical fact. I like Teddy, I want Teddy on the field. In a pick up game I would pick Teddy every time over Bradford, I would let Teddy Babysit my kids... Bradford can watch the dog. But he does produce more. He has had more time then Teddy, more experience and maybe Teddy would have been better this year... or maybe he would have become a white supremacist... each is equally likely because Teddy is not going to play this year.

I believe Teddy has a higher ceiling then Sam but Sam will play as well as or better than Teddy did last year.

Last point. Secretly none of us want to win the Superbowl with Bradford because we would feel like we were cheating on Bridgewater and it wouldn't feel as real as winning it with our drafted 'nice guy' QB.


Bottom line is there are always things that can happen that will mess a season up. This is a genuinely good effort on managements part to salvage the season. Its a calculated gamble and it isn't even that bad of a gamble in the first place. It has a lot of upside and so what if its a total failure. We get Teddy back next year, restructure and cut like we always do its football life it turns ever on.


Total random direction that no one else seems to be mentioning. Anyone consider that this move indicates that this is PETERSONS last season? If you fully intend to restructure and trade away AP after this year this move becomes a lot more palatable strictly from a price standpoint.

[Mothman]

Hi everyone,

Well damn, I missed the party, lets see what we got here... All the lemmings off the cliff? Good, good. Several drunk fans in the corner slur cheering for Bradwater?... or was that Bridgeford... hmmm interesting. And there's Jordyghost on his ... is he trolling or consoling? Even he looks confused! You three put Jim down and step away from the volcano ! Someone mop up these tears, put out that dumpster fire... Oh that's Winter Park? Nevermind let it burn, its better that way. Now lets walk this whole thing back.


Lets just get it out of the way. This sucks , Teddy's injury sucks. Yeah sure we can play the nice human card first of "don't want this to happen to anyone, he's such a good person, etc" Bottom line is we wanted him to win football games and he wont do that for us this year. That just sucks.

Obviously we all had our person preferences on how this could have played out. Seems like most of us didn't get exactly what we wanted. Personally, I think blaming Jim is a little premature, given that as long as we have all been Vikings fans they have never won a Superbowl. Actually come to think of it, this might be all my fault. I remember hoping a few years ago that someday we got to see what Bradford could do on our team. Into the Volcano with me!

So, what? We overpaid? Lets see how we overpaid. Lets assume that Bradford gets injured early on. First play of the season, bam... legs get knocked clean off... literally. Welp, hes out for at least the rest of the season boom total mission failure. Who can you possibly blame for that though? It could happen at any time to anyone, we got an extremely painful lesson in that less than two weeks ago. So lets assume of the sake of the argument that he doesn't get trashed by an injury, which again, is a random chance and we cant do much about it. Lets say he has a season sorta like last year. If that happens, assuming Strength of schedule, what teddy produced last year and what not... plug in the numbers... carry the 3...

Looks like we probably make the playoffs! That raises his stock. We suddenly have two playoff QBs on the roster. Who do we keep becomes the issue, which is a scary one, I feel you on that what if we lose Teddy... that would suck or what if we trade Bradford and he wins 2 superbowls. That would suck too. But who makes that call? the team that in this scenario made the right call and got Bradford on the team in the first place. This is a very very strong position to be in.

Now, what if he has a middling season and we go 7-9 or 8-8 or something. Well that will suck and that would be worse case minus say injury. But even then. There is a draft for the reason. I assure you. Teams will blow this year. a team might go 0-16 or a bunch of starters might go down... Or Tony Romo could be struck by the direct rays of the sun and break his collar bone. Teams will need a QB. And Bradford is decentish, even if he has a subpar year. We will unload him to someone and while we wouldn't recoup our 1st we could probably get a high 2nd if Slick Rick gets his way. So what, we lost 20 places on the draft board to take a shot to be a contender this year. Its not a bad gamble. I can see why some wouldn't want it but its not bad. Its not a bad worst case.

Or you know we could have the best case scenario and win the Superbowl which then we have the best worst problem you could have. In that case they might get creative. Trim AP's salary or trade him to keep SB and TB on the roster for a year or so. Could you imagine the insane value EITHER would have at the trade deadline if an injury occurred in season? Its a fun fantasy and highly unlikely but its about as likely as Bradford crippling himself this season.

There are some facts to be considered. Bradford produces more than Bridgewater. Period. Its an empirical fact. I like Teddy, I want Teddy on the field. In a pick up game I would pick Teddy every time over Bradford, I would let Teddy Babysit my kids... Bradford can watch the dog. But he does produce more. He has had more time then Teddy, more experience and maybe Teddy would have been better this year... or maybe he would have become a white supremacist... each is equally likely because Teddy is not going to play this year.

I believe Teddy has a higher ceiling then Sam but Sam will play as well as or better than Teddy did last year.

Last point. Secretly none of us want to win the Superbowl with Bradford because we would feel like we were cheating on Bridgewater and it wouldn't feel as real as winning it with our drafted 'nice guy' QB.


Bottom line is there are always things that can happen that will mess a season up. This is a genuinely good effort on managements part to salvage the season. Its a calculated gamble and it isn't even that bad of a gamble in the first place. It has a lot of upside and so what if its a total failure. We get Teddy back next year, restructure and cut like we always do its football life it turns ever on.


Total random direction that no one else seems to be mentioning. Anyone consider that this move indicates that this is PETERSONS last season? If you fully intend to restructure and trade away AP after this year this move becomes a lot more palatable strictly from a price standpoint.

Oh, I've considered it but I refuse to think about it.

I assure you, however, that I'm going to be fine with a Vikings Super Bowl win this season if it happens. Winning it with Brett Favre would have felt a bit like cheating. Winning it with Bradford? I'm more than fine with that! Our drafted "nice guy" QB would get a ring too.

Good post. I laughed out loud at several points.

Vikeinmontana, your post was a great read too. I really enjoyed it.

[Texas Vike]

How the trade went down:

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/09/04/sam- ... eagles-nfl

Great read.

This intrigued me, Spielman says,

I had one other thing going with another team on Friday, but we liked Sam a lot.

Theories on who that other team / player was?

[Mothman]

Theories on who that other team / player was?

KC and Foles? Bucs aand Glennon?

I've got nothin'.

[vikeinmontana]

Hi everyone,

Well damn, I missed the party, lets see what we got here... All the lemmings off the cliff? Good, good. Several drunk fans in the corner slur cheering for Bradwater?... or was that Bridgeford... hmmm interesting. And there's Jordyghost on his ... is he trolling or consoling? Even he looks confused! You three put Jim down and step away from the volcano ! Someone mop up these tears, put out that dumpster fire... Oh that's Winter Park? Nevermind let it burn, its better that way. Now lets walk this whole thing back.


Lets just get it out of the way. This sucks , Teddy's injury sucks. Yeah sure we can play the nice human card first of "don't want this to happen to anyone, he's such a good person, etc" Bottom line is we wanted him to win football games and he wont do that for us this year. That just sucks.

Obviously we all had our person preferences on how this could have played out. Seems like most of us didn't get exactly what we wanted. Personally, I think blaming Jim is a little premature, given that as long as we have all been Vikings fans they have never won a Superbowl. Actually come to think of it, this might be all my fault. I remember hoping a few years ago that someday we got to see what Bradford could do on our team. Into the Volcano with me!

So, what? We overpaid? Lets see how we overpaid. Lets assume that Bradford gets injured early on. First play of the season, bam... legs get knocked clean off... literally. Welp, hes out for at least the rest of the season boom total mission failure. Who can you possibly blame for that though? It could happen at any time to anyone, we got an extremely painful lesson in that less than two weeks ago. So lets assume of the sake of the argument that he doesn't get trashed by an injury, which again, is a random chance and we cant do much about it. Lets say he has a season sorta like last year. If that happens, assuming Strength of schedule, what teddy produced last year and what not... plug in the numbers... carry the 3...

Looks like we probably make the playoffs! That raises his stock. We suddenly have two playoff QBs on the roster. Who do we keep becomes the issue, which is a scary one, I feel you on that what if we lose Teddy... that would suck or what if we trade Bradford and he wins 2 superbowls. That would suck too. But who makes that call? the team that in this scenario made the right call and got Bradford on the team in the first place. This is a very very strong position to be in.

Now, what if he has a middling season and we go 7-9 or 8-8 or something. Well that will suck and that would be worse case minus say injury. But even then. There is a draft for the reason. I assure you. Teams will blow this year. a team might go 0-16 or a bunch of starters might go down... Or Tony Romo could be struck by the direct rays of the sun and break his collar bone. Teams will need a QB. And Bradford is decentish, even if he has a subpar year. We will unload him to someone and while we wouldn't recoup our 1st we could probably get a high 2nd if Slick Rick gets his way. So what, we lost 20 places on the draft board to take a shot to be a contender this year. Its not a bad gamble. I can see why some wouldn't want it but its not bad. Its not a bad worst case.

Or you know we could have the best case scenario and win the Superbowl which then we have the best worst problem you could have. In that case they might get creative. Trim AP's salary or trade him to keep SB and TB on the roster for a year or so. Could you imagine the insane value EITHER would have at the trade deadline if an injury occurred in season? Its a fun fantasy and highly unlikely but its about as likely as Bradford crippling himself this season.

There are some facts to be considered. Bradford produces more than Bridgewater. Period. Its an empirical fact. I like Teddy, I want Teddy on the field. In a pick up game I would pick Teddy every time over Bradford, I would let Teddy Babysit my kids... Bradford can watch the dog. But he does produce more. He has had more time then Teddy, more experience and maybe Teddy would have been better this year... or maybe he would have become a white supremacist... each is equally likely because Teddy is not going to play this year.

I believe Teddy has a higher ceiling then Sam but Sam will play as well as or better than Teddy did last year.

Last point. Secretly none of us want to win the Superbowl with Bradford because we would feel like we were cheating on Bridgewater and it wouldn't feel as real as winning it with our drafted 'nice guy' QB.


Bottom line is there are always things that can happen that will mess a season up. This is a genuinely good effort on managements part to salvage the season. Its a calculated gamble and it isn't even that bad of a gamble in the first place. It has a lot of upside and so what if its a total failure. We get Teddy back next year, restructure and cut like we always do its football life it turns ever on.


Total random direction that no one else seems to be mentioning. Anyone consider that this move indicates that this is PETERSONS last season? If you fully intend to restructure and trade away AP after this year this move becomes a lot more palatable strictly from a price standpoint.

best thing I've read on here for some time! thanks!