Sam Bradford And Nick Foles — The Quarterback Swap
Like something out of the movie Freaky Friday, Sam Bradford and Nick Foles will be swapping teams during a trade completed the first freaky Tuesday of NFL free agency.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has been under heavy criticism for some controversial and puzzling changes he’s made to the moderately successful Eagles team during the off season including the release of LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. Kelly’s acquisition of Sam Bradford, a quarterback who has only thrown in seven games since 2012, certainly has some fans scratching their heads.
Foles spent the majority of last season out with a broken collarbone and veteran Mark Sanchez finished it, helping the Eagles finish 10-6 and just barely missing the playoffs. The trade of Foles for the frequently injured Sam Bradford seems like another odd choice leaving some to wonder just what is the method to Kelly’s madness.
Sam Bradford was an apt quarterback in his rookie year, setting the record for the most consecutive passes without an interception and passing Peyton Manning’s record for the most completed passed by a rookie quarterback.
In 2011, Bradford’s injury ridden team struggled to protect him causing the young quarterback to struggle through game after game with a high ankle sprain. While 2012 seemed to show the improvement the Rams and Bradford were looking for, their hopes of playoff contention were dashed in 2013 when Bradford tore his left ACL in week 7.
Sam Bradford entered the 2014 season with the hope of proving his quarterback fortitude only to have the unthinkable happen. In a preseason play against the Cleveland Browns, Bradford stepped wrong on an incomplete pass and limped off the field during the first quarter. That evening Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed the worst. Bradford had re-torn his ACL and would find himself out for the entire Rams season.
Though the exchange of Foles for Bradford may seem like a strange move, in reality, it seems either quarterback would be considered a second-stringer for the Eagles at this point as the team recently announced a two year contract worth $16 million for Mark Sanchez.
Some speculate the move by Kelly was simply so the coach would have a better chance at acquiring University of Oregon phenom Marcus Mariota in the upcoming draft. Others consider that with the loss of so many other key offensive players, Kelly is simply looking to re-vamp the entire offense and saw something in Bradford he liked.
Unfortunately, due to Chip Kelly’s refusal for interviews during the off season (other than those required by the NFL) Eagles fans have no choice but to wait to see what role Sam Bradford will play, if any.
What do you think? Was the swap of Bradford and Foles more beneficial for the Eagles or the Rams?
[Image courtesy of CBS Sports]
