Blog: Speculation That Bradford Could Require Surgery After Season

by Ryan Van Bibber on Aug 16, 2012 11:40 AM CDT in 2012 NFL offseason

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is pretty serious when he says that his ankle is not 100 percent. On Thursday morning Jason LaCanfora revealed that Bradford may need surgery on his ankle after the season. The news will only exacerbate concerns over Bradford's future, understandably so.

Star-divide

Bradford has been telling anyone who will listen that his ankle is not 100 percent, though it is not impacting his play. The coaching staff has been more dismissive of Bradford's ankle injury, at least in front of cameras and the softballs lobbed at them by the local media.

Concerns about Bradford's ankle might explain why the team spent so much extra time looking at backup quarterbacks during the offseason, before finally settling on Kellen Clemens.

Having watched Bradford take practice reps and work in the preseason game last week, it was clear that the ankle was not a factor. The issue is how soon it could be a factor. One hit, which could happen often behind a questionable offensive line, could put Bradford back on the shelf. Even worse, it could quickly exacerbate his "cabin fever" problem, i.e. his tendency to respond poorly to pressure.

Hindsight is always 20-20. The previous administration rushed Bradford back from his original injury after just two weeks. Needless to say, he struggled and ended up missing even more time. They should have put him on injured reserve. Spagnuolo and Devaney also tried to rush Danny Amendola back too soon, and ended up losing him for the year.

LaCanfora's report is optimistic about Bradford's season and his ability to grow into form. The new coaching staff does have a solid plan for working with the quarterback. Nevertheless, 2012 is clearly a make or break year for Bradford. The ankle injury and the impact on his game will be closely watched all year.

Here's what the source article says, and its not all that ominous:

Quote:

---

That's not to say it will doom his season, or be a constant bother. But there will be good days and bad days -- it's the nature of the injury -- and when the season ends there is a definite possibility that a corrective procedure will be prescribed, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Naturally at this point, just a few weeks into training camp, no one here is thinking that far forward. And depending on how the ankle withstands the rigors of the regular season, prolonged offseason rest could be prescribed rather than surgery.

---

I've toned down the thread title which, intentionally or not, suggested that Bradford might need surgery now, which is clearly not the case at all.

Not prolonged rest! Please God anything but that! NOOOO!!!!

Van Bibber's article is nothing more than sensationalistic BS. The source article, which does not quote or cite to anyone (as is typical for LaCanfora), merely states in passing (the article is actually about how Bradford is the heart of the Rams rebuilding) that it is possible that Sam could need surgery at the end of the year.

So, in total, we have a know-nothing blogger, overstating the speculation of a know-nothing columnist, citing to nobody, suggesting the possibility that a future event may or may not happen.

And that, folks, is what we call "sports journalism" these days.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AvengerRam

Van Bibber's article is nothing more than sensationalistic BS. The source article, which does not quote or cite to anyone (as is typical for LaCanfora), merely states in passing (the article is actually about how Bradford is the heart of the Rams rebuilding) that it is possible that Sam could need surgery at the end of the year.

So, in total, we have a know-nothing blogger, overstating the speculation of a know-nothing columnist, citing to nobody, suggesting the possibility that a future event may or may not happen.

And that, folks, is what we call "sports journalism" these days.

---

Sam Bradford may be throwing for a TD next year.

How much am I being paid for this weeks article, boss?

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford says speculation he might need offseason ankle surgery is off base.

NFC West Blog

ESPN.com's Mike Sando writes about all things NFC West in his division blog.

• Network: NFL Nation

Bradford missed six games with a high left ankle sprain last season, aggravating the injury a few times after being hurt in mid-October and sitting out the final three games. He brought up the injury after the team scrimmaged earlier this month when asked generically how he felt physically, volunteering the ankle would need to be managed.

After practice Thursday night, Bradford says he is weary of discussing the topic. He adds that until the injury causes him to miss practice or game time, it was a "non-issue."

Coach Jeff Fisher says he thought Bradford has been moving well and has had no issues. Fisher said surgery could sideline a player four to six months, but rehabbing the injury could be a longer process.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rambos

After practice Thursday night, Bradford says he is weary of discussing the topic.

---

Tip: If you're weary of discussing a topic, don't keep making comments to the press that indicate there's something to report.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nick

Tip: If you're weary of discussing a topic, don't keep making comments to the press that indicate there's something to report.

---

It's funny you say that Nick, in Fisher presser he, kinda joked with the local media saying if you guys would quit asking him about it, it may heal.

In Sam presser, Sam really came out and said I'm done taking questions about it and you can kinda hear the media say in the background, sounds like Fisher has coached him up finally....

I Do think Fisher gave Sam your tip.