Sam Bradford could have landed Rams high draft pick/NFL.com

[RamBill]

Sam Bradford could have landed Rams high draft pick

By Chris Wesseling
Published: Feb. 15, 2013 at 08:43 p.m.

Sam Bradford could have landed Rams high draft pick - NFL.com

Upon taking over the football operations of the St. Louis Rams last offseason, coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead wasted no time in declaring that Sam Bradford would not be traded in a move to draft Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 pick.

While Bradford remained highly regarded as a former No. 1 pick with intriguing arm talent, it seemed at the time that the Rams were cavalierly disregarding a chance to draft a quarterback with the potential to carve out an exciting and successful new era while turning the franchise's fortunes around.

Whether or not salary-cap implications played a major role, Fisher simply believed that it was Bradford -- not Griffin -- who had the potential to become the best quarterback in football.

With the chance to land a windfall of Redskins draft picks for the right to land Griffin, Fisher put his money where his mouth was last offseason. Fisher acknowledged spurning multiple teams inquiring about the possibility of a Bradford trade.

How high were teams willing to go? Sports Illustrated's Peter King tells NBC Sports Network's Erik Kuselius that the Rams would have received a "high first-round pick" in return had they opted to deal Bradford.

The implication is that the Browns, holding the No. 4 pick and Bradford's former play-caller in Pat Shurmur, were the team hot on his trail. Had the Rams been more open-minded on Griffin, they might have changed the course of the franchises in Cleveland and Washington as well as their own. As it is now, Fisher's future is tied to Bradford's performance after passing up a chance to draft the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

[VegasRam]

Slow news day.

[Azul e Oro]

Yeah, and maybe RamsNation would be holding its collective breath while Griffin recovers from double ligament surgery that involved cutting both knees.

Personally, I'm fine with "only" worrying about how much better Sam will get now that the scheme is settled and how those extra picks will accelerate that process.

[Fortuninerhater]

I like all the picks we garnered in the trade with Washington, but I also would've loved having RG3, the 4th pick, and maybe some other draft considerations, not to mention getting rid of Bradford's contract.

Definitely prefer RG3 at 20 million over Bradford at 78 million.

[VegasRam]

Bradford has not been paid 78M, Nor will he. Fact is, as QB salaries go, he's not that expensive. To date, Long's made almost as much.
Sorry, but it's a bit lame on your part to blame Bradford for the salary structure in place when he was drafted No 1.

Let it go.

[VegasRam]

And no way I would ever have taken RG me me me. Sorry, he's great, a class act, and exciting, but he is not going to last

[Rammed]

And if the valdation of his love for RGIII is his offensive rookie of the year title. Guess we're on par with having Bradford.......

Indeed slow news day

[HUbison]

This just in: Chris Wesselling should not quit his day job.

[RAMFANRAIDERHATER]

I like all the picks we garnered in the trade with Washington, but I also would've loved having RG3, the 4th pick, and maybe some other draft considerations, not to mention getting rid of Bradford's contract.

Definitely prefer RG3 at 20 million over Bradford at 78 million.

While I respect your opinion, I have to totally disagree with this statement. In no way would I rather have RG III than Bradford. The future is much brighter with a QB like Bradford than a running style QB like RG. Right now, the Redskins are holding their breaths as to IF RG can still play at the level he played to this year. It is quite possible that RG III has already seen his best year.

[AvengerRam]

So King told Kuselius who told Wessling...

Who told King?

Most idiotic excuse for a news article ever.

[Fortuninerhater]

While I respect your opinion, I have to totally disagree with this statement. In no way would I rather have RG III than Bradford. The future is much brighter with a QB like Bradford than a running style QB like RG. Right now, the Redskins are holding their breaths as to IF RG can still play at the level he played to this year. It is quite possible that RG III has already seen his best year.

Who knows what the future holds, but as of today, RG3 is a far better bargain at 20 million than Bradford at 70 plus.

[AvengerRam]

Who knows what the future holds, but as of today, RG3 is a far better bargain at 20 million than Bradford at 70 plus.

As of today, RG3 can barely walk. Just sayin'

[Fortuninerhater]

Bradford has not been paid 78M, Nor will he. Fact is, as QB salaries go, he's not that expensive. To date, Long's made almost as much.
Sorry, but it's a bit lame on your part to blame Bradford for the salary structure in place when he was drafted No 1.

Let it go.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Sam Bradford was the 3rd highest paid QB in the NFL this year.

IMO, that is extremely expensive. Especially when you factor in that he's nowhere near the 3rd best QB in the league.

The salary structure was what it was when Sam got drafted, through no fault of his own. Obviously he benefitted greatly from a ridiculous rookie salary scale, and for that I say congrats to him.

But as far as I'm concerned, unless he starts to play like an elite QB week in and week out, I will continue to deem him grossly overpaid and I will continue to speak my mind about it.

[Fortuninerhater]

As of today, RG3 can barely walk. Just sayin'

You can say the same for Adrian Petersen this time last year, just sayin'.

[Fargo Ram Fan]

RGIII's legs look like twigs. One year in, they are already damaged. No way he will play a long time in the NFL, unless he learns to stay in the pocket, thus eliminating one of his best attributes. The Rams did the right thing.