St. Louis Rams Rookie Quarterback, Ready for the Pros
Sam Bradford attended Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and like most athletes, excelled in many sports such as basketball, golf and football.
As a senior quarterback for his high school football team in 2005-2006, he threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. Although a young Bradford posted solid numbers, he was overshadowed by other talented quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford and Tim Teebow.
Bradford never concerned himself with the quarterback rankings and where scouts had him listed on their charts. He knew he had the potential and skills as a player to get a chance to excel at the University level. And so, the hometown kid did not have to travel very far to play with the Oklahoma Sooners.
In his first game for his new team, Bradford completed 21 of 23 attempts for 363 yards and three touchdowns in just little over two quarters against the University of North Texas, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half in the process. His solid play did not end there and through his first nine games, Bradford threw 25 TDs.
Bradford made sure his critics had little to say about his game and dismissed any notion of his early success as beginners' luck. He went on to capture the Heisman Trophy, an award given to the most outstanding player in collegiate football, after the 2008 season.
In no rush to jump feet first in the pros, which many expected him to do, Bradford opted to stay as the Sooners' quarterback and bring home the school's eight national championship, and first since the 2000 campaign.
But somewhere along the lines, Bradford’s illustrious plan fell apart after suffering a serious injury to his throwing shoulder.
Bradford announced that he would have season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder. He discussed that decision with his team mates and those who have been in a similar situation.
"We've been trading phone calls," Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers stated. "He called, twice. When you've torn ligaments in your shoulder, it takes time to heal. It's different than other positions. When you take hits like that, it impairs your ability to throw the ball."
Smith knows all about that. He first injured his throwing shoulder in 2007 and was limited to seven games.
The junior also announced that he would not return to the team for the 2010 season and became the first underclassman to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. "To make this decision and realize I've probably played my last game," Bradford said before hesitating, "it's really tough."
The time was now for the quarterback to try his luck in the National Football League and carry over his success at the collegiate level.
"I think I'm back. The arm feels great,” said Bradford when asked about his shoulder prior to the draft. That is all the Saint Louis Rams needed to hear and after seeing him throw the ball around during his pro day practice, the Rams selected Bradford with the No. 1 overall pick.
"You have no idea how excited I am. Just to have the opportunity to come to St. Louis and start my NFL career there is just a blessing, and I can't wait to get there and get to work. It was a dream come true.
You grow up and dream about playing in the NFL and you dream about going in the first round. It just seemed so far-fetched at (one) time. To be up there tonight and to actually have it happen is just an unbelievable feeling."
Rookies will report for training camp on Wednesday, July 28 where Bradford will get his first taste in the pros.
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