Roesler: Bradford’s injury proves a lesson

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By Nicolas Roesler

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Let there be no more doubts as to whether a college football player should go back and play another year for his college or go to the NFL if he is ready for pro competition.

Oklahoma’s quarterback Sam Bradford will have shoulder surgery Wednesday to repair the damage to his throwing shoulder that has been inflicted this season. This injury has ended Bradford’s career at Oklahoma and has possibly lowered his draft stock, despite news from the New York Times that he may still be in the top ten.

The sports world is now wondering if this could have been avoided, and yes it could have.

Bradford had the opportunity to enter the NFL Draft after last season, in which he enticed NFL scouts with his arm and football intelligence. However, maybe because of hurt feelings after losing the National Championship game to Florida, Bradford decided to return to his Sooner family and try for a National Championship ring.

Yes, it was admirable to see a player give up however much money would have been thrown at him by the NFL for an opportunity to earn his school a National Championship. But, in hindsight, it was not the most intelligent decision. Not only did Bradford miss out on money that could have been made this year, but he has also put his throwing shoulder through two similar injuries and a surgery that requires a four-to-six-month recovery time.

That means Bradford’s shoulder will just barely be healed in time for the April draft workouts. But how can anyone expect a newly-rehabbed shoulder to perform at the level it used to be at so soon? Bradford will have potentially gone from a top five draft pick to a middle of the round pick up.

Now future NFL hopefuls will be even more skeptical, even closed minded, about risking another year outside of the NFL. Yes, they are just as likely to be injured in the NFL, but at least if it happens there, they will be getting a paycheck. This season two quarterbacks opted to return to the college spotlight, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, and both have suffered serious injuries. Tebow has been able to recover from his frightening concussion earlier this season and is still in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy. Bradford hasn’t been so lucky.

This issue has been around in college basketball for years now too. Kansas State would have loved to have Michael Beasley for four years, but that would have involved many more negatives for Beasley’s personal career than positives. And yes, it is hard for fans to grow to like these situations — Kansas fans couldn’t have been happier to learn that Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich were coming back for this 2009-2010 season. Although college football and basketball are two different animals, athletes could have the same thoughts.

And what goes through the minds of these athletes is bound to change after what has happened this year in college football.

— Edited by Abby Olcese

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