In Saturday’s Star Tribune, Jim Souhan looks at the Vikings’ newly annointed starting quarterback and says it can go one of two ways — “Two years from now, Bradford will either have proved he can lead a winning team, or he will be on his way to Ponder-osa.”
Sunday night, millions of Vikings fans and dozens of Vikings players will ask what Sam Bradford can do for them.
Just as important is the reverse.
What can the Vikings do for Bradford?
The answer will shape this season, and the next, and so will Bradford’s career, and perhaps his last chance to improve his reputation.
Bradford was the first pick in the 2010 draft. Which means he was selected by a terrible team.
Bradford did not singlehandedly elevate the Rams. Neither has anyone else. They haven’t had a winning record since 2003.
Bradford muddled through, putting up numbers not all that different from Teddy Bridgewater’s, for four seasons before being traded to Philadelphia.
Last year with the Eagles, while adapting to a new and complex offense, Bradford completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for an 86.4 passer rating.
Last year, in his second season with the Vikings, Bridgewater completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a rating of 88.7.
Bradford is on his third team and was asked to be a savior, so his numbers are considered disappointing. Bridgewater is younger and thought to be improving, so his very similar numbers are considered promising.
The question facing Bradford is whether, at 28, he is still a growth stock. While there is no sure way to predict his future, this is a good time to point out that even great quarterbacks need help, and that Bradford never has played for a winning team, or with a running back like Adrian Peterson.
Two years from now, Bradford will either have proved he can lead a winning team, or he will be on his way to Ponder-osa.
