Feeley injury gives thumbs up for Sam Bradford
Thanks to a thumb injury to St. Louis Rams starter A.J. Feeley, Sam Bradford, the former Oklahoma star and Heisman Trophy winner, will get his first start in the NFL on Thursday night as the Rams will travel to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Patriots.
Feeley suffered the injury in last week’s 19-17 win over the Cleveland Browns and Bradford will take the reins in the third pre-season game.
The Rams rookie quarterback and the number one overall draft pick is excited about his opening. “It’s something that every kid dreams about. I was no different,” Bradford told reporters in St. Louis yesterday. “To start in the NFL is, it’s a tremendous honour. I’m extremely excited for this opportunity. I want to have a strong showing. I want to show the guys on this team that I can play.”
Bradford has not done that thus far in his young career, completing just 12-of-27 passes for 81 yards in his two pre-season games and was dropped four times in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings’ ferocious defence.
But Bradford remains optimistic that things will be different on Thursday. “For one, when you’re starting you’re getting the first series of the game, you’re not sitting on the sideline waiting for a couple series to get in,” Bradford said. “But other than that, I’m going to approach it just like I’ve approached the past two.”
New England’s head coach Bill Belichick also expects a stronger outing from Bradford, understanding that the rookie is still digesting new information and learning arguably the hardest position to play in all of professional sports.
“(He’s) a very talented player,” Belichick said. “Like all rookies, I’m sure he’s learning a lot, like we all do our first year in the league. (He’s) a talented guy.”
But let’s face it, the St. Louis Rams led by head coach Steve Spagnuolo, had a dismal 1-15 record of last season. Bradford is going to need more time behind centre and help around him, to help turn this franchise’s fortune around.
Meanwhile, the Patriots, will try to keep their momentum going after opening the pre-season with a win over the Saints (27-24) and another victory over the Falcons (28-10). Quarterback Tom Brady has been phenomenal in his two brief appearances, completing 15-of-20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Brady and the rest of the Patriots starters are expected to play about half the game on Thursday, before giving way to backup Brian Hoyer and the second-team. Receiver Wes Welker, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, saw limited action in the Patriots second pre-season contest and may only be used in the first quarter.
In typical third pre-season exhibitions, the starters usually play half the game as they want to avoid any major injuries prior to the regular season, when it counts. The Pats will open the regular season 12 September against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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