Sam Bradford's a Viking

[Texas Vike]

It sure is and that could get things off to an ugly start so they might hold him back. The Panthers game isn't exactly going to be an ideal time to play him either.

Assuming they won't start Bradford in week 1, a lot may depend on how effectively Hill plays against the Titans.

I don't want them to rush him out there. I think Turner's system makes that tricky because it leans on timing between the QB and WRs.

Agreed. I think it would behoove the fan base to be patient with the process. The last thing we need is to play him too early and have things start poorly.

[SP1966]

2) Statistical analysis suggests that 1st Round picks are overrated; while Vikings gave up an asset for Bradford, they also picked up a potentially tradeable asset; if all goes well, Vikings may have luxury of two starter-quality QBs a year from now -- could get back more for Bradford than they gave up.

In the event Bradford plays well enough to raise his value around the league he's going to be too valuable to let go. If he plays that well he will have proven to be as good or better than we hoped Teddy would be this season. If he excels there is no way you trade him in the hope the Teddy comes back healthy AND raises his game to the same level.

[akvikingsfan]

In the event Bradford plays well enough to raise his value around the league he's going to be too valuable to let go. If he plays that well he will have proven to be as good or better than we hoped Teddy would be this season. If he excels there is no way you trade him in the hope the Teddy comes back healthy AND raises his game to the same level.

This is the dilemma that the Charges faced with Brees and Rivers. They had Brees under contract and drafted Rivers. They elected to let go of one of them (the older player) and kept the other. If Bradford raises his stock this season, I believe they will attempt to re-sign him to a longer contract (because we don't know what Teddy will look like when he comes back) and then after next season one of the two will be traded. I don't see the team sitting on two starting caliber quarterbacks. As much as us as fans would love that, I don't see both Bradford and Teddy being on the team after next season (given that Bradford puts up great numbers this season). I would almost bet that Bradford would be the quarterback that was traded after next season due to age. Hopefully this becomes a problem that the team faces.

[J. Kapp 11]

Assuming they won't start Bradford in week 1, a lot may depend on how effectively Hill plays against the Titans.

I can guess how Hill will play -- like a more conservative Teddy Bridgewater, with 1/10th the mobility and a weaker arm.

Please get ready soon, Sam.

[PurpleHalo]

My first reaction was that this was an over-reaction by Spielman. First and a fourth? That's way too much for a guy who is, by now, a journeyman. If he was a stud QB, he wouldn't be on his third team. Teams hang on to franchise QB's. So my first thought was that this was really bad news, on par with giving Cunningham a huge extension after the 1998 season, which meant we were getting rid of future SB winning QB Brad Johnson. And if the season falls apart, in ways we can't anticipate, but do often happen, that #1 pick could be pretty high. Remember, the 1999 season that had so much promise started 2-4, and only the switch to Jeff George (jettisoning Cunningham after six games into his five year contract) salvaged a wild card slot.

My sustained reaction... A little more measured. It's clear Shurmer spoke well of him. We have to trust our coaching staff - we really have no choice. Bradford does, in theory, know how to fling the ball downfield, and it's probable that the fantasy stat line for Vikings QB's goes up this year - although I prefer wins over stats any day. I think a bit of the issue with what I consider to be too much compensation is how much of the contract the Eagles are just eating. They are taking on his signing bonus. So they are essentially paying $11 million for our first round pick next year. I can see why they insisted on a #1. Not saying we had to give them our #1, just that it was what they were going to need to part with Sam.

As far as the #1 pick... As long as we weren't drafting a WR in round one (Williamson, Patterson, Treadwell?), it's a bad loss for us. I'd take two years of Bradford now in exchange for the last four years of Cordarelle Patterson, but I wouldn't do the same for Harrison Smith - that's a huge loss.

Plunketts 3rd team was the Raiders, he was also number 1 overall pick. The Raiders were stacked with talent. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

On a side note, about signing Cunningham and letting Brad go. Brad won because the Buccs had an unreal defense. Not because he was a stud QB. He was Dilfer 2.0.

[SP1966]

This is the dilemma that the Charges faced with Brees and Rivers. They had Brees under contract and drafted Rivers. They elected to let go of one of them (the older player) and kept the other. If Bradford raises his stock this season, I believe they will attempt to re-sign him to a longer contract (because we don't know what Teddy will look like when he comes back) and then after next season one of the two will be traded. I don't see the team sitting on two starting caliber quarterbacks. As much as us as fans would love that, I don't see both Bradford and Teddy being on the team after next season (given that Bradford puts up great numbers this season). I would almost bet that Bradford would be the quarterback that was traded after next season due to age. Hopefully this becomes a problem that the team faces.

I don't think Bradford's age should, or will play a role in the decision as he's young enough to remain in his prime for the duration of this teams championship window. If Bradford stays healthy and proves to be everything they hoped Teddy could be, how do you turn back to unrealized promise and away from a proven production?

The odds are Teddy will be at best, rounding into form as next season begins. Will he be ready to earn the starting job? If Bradford has a very good year then Teddy should have to earn the starting job, not just be given it as he's still an unproven commodity, not a top veteran. I'm not saying he will, but Bradford could effectively end Teddy's Vikings career with a very good season this year.

[Mothman]

On a side note, about signing Cunningham and letting Brad go. Brad won because the Buccs had an unreal defense. Not because he was a stud QB. He was Dilfer 2.0.

He was better than that. He certainly didn't carry the Bucs to that championship but he wasn't the "just don't screw it up" QB Dilfer was for the Ravens either. He was pretty important to that team.

[Jordysghost]

Plunketts 3rd team was the Raiders, he was also number 1 overall pick. The Raiders were stacked with talent. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

On a side note, about signing Cunningham and letting Brad go. Brad won because the Buccs had an unreal defense. Not because he was a stud QB. He was Dilfer 2.0.

There are so many things about John's post I don't understand, aside from the fact that I'd take Randall Cunningham over Brad Johnson, he says 'Bradford might make the fantasy line for QBs go up, but I'd take wins any day' as if Bridgewaters lackluster production somehow helps win games more then Bradford's legitimate production. Where do people come up with this ####?

[PurpleHalo]

He was better than that. He certainly didn't carry the Bucs to that championship but he wasn't the "just don't screw it up" QB Dilfer was for the Ravens either. He was pretty important to that team.

Thats why I said 2.0, that means upgrade. He was better than Dilfer.

[Mothman]

Thats why I said 2.0, that means upgrade. He was better than Dilfer.

Sorry.... I read it as more of a repeat than upgrade. My mistake. Thanks for explaining.

[Lars]

Hi All,

Calling from Philly and I can tell you without a doubt you got a GREAT QB yesterday..!!

I know there's doubters, but Sam Bradford is an elite passer as good as any in the league and I really mean any..

This is no lie..

Bradford has played on absolutely rotten teams from the time he was in the league.. St. Louis was the worst of the worst and the Eagles last year were even worse than that.. Other teams openly said last year they could predict what plays the Eagles were running because Kelly's nutty offensive scheme had become so predictable and he never changed anything about it in the 3 years he was there.

In spite of that Bradford set an Eagle record last year for completion percentage with an absolutely terrible OL, nobody who could run the ball and with the totally worst receivers in the league who lead the league in drops..

This is no joke... You guys are going to move the ball..

For me personally, the whole change Bradford for Wentz move is insanity..

But Eagles are going to do what they're going to do...

Good luck..!!

Thanks for the shout out, JohnnyNight. Nice to know that Sam Bradford has fans... I've heard a lot of complaining about Teddy Bridgewater over the last 2 years -- some of which I haven't found warranted. The kid has heart (and is only 23 years old). When Teddy went down last week, all of a sudden fans felt the Vikings were doomed this season. For the last few days Viking fans, coaches and players have had to deal with our grief and disappointment.

As the week went on, I for one wondered what the Vikings were going to do. You see, one of the problems with Bridgewater has been, up until this preseason, that he hadn't been able to consistently throw and complete passes down the field. He showed signs of being able to do it in the first and third preseason games this August... and everyone had high expectations for him this year (not to mention high expectations for the team as a whole). But now that Teddy is suddenly out for the year -- we've had to deal with our disappointment and deflated hopes.

I like Shaun Hill. The guy is a serviceable backup QB -- but he cannot throw the ball down the field. He doesn't have the arm. And that meant for anyone paying attention that, without the new Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings were going to continue to have a one dimensional offense this season by running the ball and throwing short -- a characteristic of the Viking offenses that has plagued the team since Brett Favre's awesome season in 2009. It's nice to have Adrian Peterson -- but even Peterson can be stopped if your QB can't throw over the opposing defense when they cheat up to the line to stop him with 10 in the box.

So now Viking fans have to get used to the idea that Bradford is the man, and that, because of the timing of Bridgewater's injury, the Vikings were forced to pay a premium for him. I must say that it worked out good for the Eagles though in terms of getting back the 1st round draft pick they traded away to acquire Wentz. But is Bradford worth the price? A lot of us aren't so sure. He's had injury problems (two ACL surgeries in 6 years) and after Teddy's injury, some of us are looking for the other shoe to drop. He's also different than Teddy in that Bradford is more of a standard drop-back passer. Teddy had shown us that he was a mobile QB. Bradford won't be.

But I can say this -- it's a fact that Bradford can throw the ball down the field and make completions. He's got a strong, accurate arm and he's proved that he can throw the ball down the field in Philly. And if he can make that play enough for the Vikings to loosen up opposing defenses, it's going to open up the running game big time. That would be good. So it's really on Bradford now -- both to deliver on what he can do as a passer and to stay healthy. If he can do those two things in 2016, it's going to be a fun season for Viking fans in spite of Teddy's injury.

[TSonn]

Interesting that PFF graded Bradford higher than any NFC North QB after the 2015 season: https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-pf ... -rankings/

[dead_poet]

I don't think Bradford's age should, or will play a role in the decision as he's young enough to remain in his prime for the duration of this teams championship window. If Bradford stays healthy and proves to be everything they hoped Teddy could be, how do you turn back to unrealized promise and away from a proven production?

The odds are Teddy will be at best, rounding into form as next season begins. Will he be ready to earn the starting job? If Bradford has a very good year then Teddy should have to earn the starting job, not just be given it as he's still an unproven commodity, not a top veteran. I'm not saying he will, but Bradford could effectively end Teddy's Vikings career with a very good season this year.

I hate QB controversies. Hate them. I think Bradford's reign as our starter does come down to his performance, his health and Teddy's recovery. Despite the opinion of some fans, Teddy is the guy internally. As much as some other fans (myself included) love him, you can tell that's a fraction of how his teammates and coaches feel. All things being equal, Teddy would probably have the edge in an equal camp battle because of it. But all things are not equal.

The crux of my hate of QB controversies is my hatred for instability. I honestly thought we had that for once in this stinking franchise since the Culpepper/Moss days. Then Kneegate pulls it all out from under me again.

*drinks heavily

[purpletinted66]

big ups vikings. now we just got to work on mashing down that first round pick to 32nd, because the eagles might be stacking by next season.

who ever is starting qb, more power to ya, and the back ups ready to prop up. joel stave looks like he could become a striker, too.

i hope bradford gets in some practice in the stealth hangar, maybe they trot him out next week.

[Mothman]

I hate QB controversies. Hate them. I think Bradford's reign as our starter does come down to his performance, his health and Teddy's recovery. Despite the opinion of some fans, Teddy is the guy internally. As much as some other fans (myself included) love him, you can tell that's a fraction of how his teammates and coaches feel. All things being equal, Teddy would probably have the edge in an equal camp battle because of it. But all things are not equal.

The crux of my hate of QB controversies is my hatred for instability. I honestly thought we had that for once in this stinking franchise since the Culpepper/Moss days. Then Kneegate pulls it all out from under me again.

*drinks heavily

Look at it this way: a team with two starting caliber QBs actually has more stability than a team with one. We've seen far too often what happens when you have the latter situation. You get Joe Webb starting a playoff game or yesterday's expensive trade. If Bradford plays well enough to be the starter next year and Bridgewater recovers sufficiently to get equal consideration, that will be nothing but good news for the Vikings, the best QB situation they've had in a long time.

The stability provided by drafting a QB in the first round, declaring him the starter and not putting anyone who can seriously compete for the job behind him only lasts as long as the starter is healthy.