Adrian Fedkiw
Doug Pederson knows where Sam Bradford is coming from, he was in his position 17 years ago when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
He was the stop-gap, a placeholder until the future was ready.
But the future isn’t ready and Bradford is still Pederson’s guy.
“I’ve actually talked to Sam since he’s been back,” Pederson said. “I told him my feelings haven’t changed. He’s my guy. He’s the number one guy. I just want him to embrace that and let’s not look backward but look forward.”
Bradford requested to be traded after the Eagles moved up in the draft to take Carson Wentz No. 2 overall in last month’s NFL Draft. Bradford’s holdout was all about attempting to create some stability for himself. He was advised by his agent Tom Condon to request a trade and wanted to go to a team where he could become “the man” and stay there for the rest of his career. Unfortunately for him, Bradford didn’t have much interest from teams and that dried up trade market is “partly” why he returned to the team last Monday.
“I understand the situation,” Pederson said. “I go back to 1999. I was brought here by Andy Reid to do a job and (the Eagles) drafted Donovan McNabb. So I understand the situation. I get the feeling. I get the emotions. But at the same time, we’re professionals about it. And I’ve told Sam all along. And I’ve told you guys all along. He’s my guy. I’m not looking back over my shoulder and the message to him was the same thing.”
As for Wentz, Pederson said the rookie has a “long way to go in his system” and there’s no rush to get him out there.
“My plan is to keep developing Carson,” he said. “Carson has a lot to learn not just from the playbook, but how to be a professional quarterback, how to handle the media, how to handle Philadelphia, his teammates, get to know his teammates. There’s a lot involved. And that’s the beauty of having two veteran guys in front of Carson Wentz. That’s the plan. Keep developing Carson, keep developing Chase, and get Sam ready for opening day.”
Check out Pederson’s press conference below.