May 09, 2016
After a three-week long hissy fit ever since the Eagles traded up to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Sam Bradford will be returning to the team today, per his new spokesperson, Connor Barwin, via Howard Eskin of 94.1 WIP.
Connor Barwin just said to me @SportsRadioWIP Sam Bradford will be in today at #eagles . Texted Barwin said will be in today. @FOX29philly
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) May 9, 2016
A report followed soon after that Bradford informed the Eagles that he will indeed be returning:
Sam Bradford has informed #Eagles personnel he'll be back in town this morning. So it's just defensive leader Fletcher Cox staying away.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2016
Bradford doesn't really have much of a choice, frankly. While he would prefer to be thought of as a long-term solution with an NFL franchise, his résumé doesn't warrant that kind of vote of confidence from any front office.
From the moment the Eagles made the trade up to pick No. 2, the result that was best for everyone -- Bradford, the Eagles, and appreciators of common sense -- was if Bradford rose to the challenge and played well in 2016. A close second would have been to quietly request a trade behind the scenes. Instead, Bradford's public aversion to competition via his agent all but destroyed his marketability to other teams, thus completely undermining his demands to be traded.
Previously, Bradford's camp said he would not be showing up until a mandatory camp in June. The realization that he better get his ass in there and secure the starting job the Eagles have already said was his must be setting in.
