The attacks Bradford has taken and the butt of jokes he has become, not so much here - but it's out there BIG TIME folks, is heart breaking to me.
I know he's made millions and if you are one of "those" fans then what I am going to say will fall on deaf ears so please read no more.
It MATTERED to this kid, it really did and still does. I always knew it, and was a major reason beyond his physical skills why I love the kid and will always root for him no matter his team or walk of life.
I loved that he represented MY TEAM with such class and dignity, such honor and perseverance. As Mort said earlier yesterday; "his rookie year he played not only every game but every snap of every game even when Steve Spagnola pleaded with him to come out of some games that where out of hand he refused because I has always felt like he's owed it to the fans of St Louis and Ram fans everywhere..."
Bernie, idiot that he is, pointed out how Sam suffered through playing 5 games year two on a high ankle sprain, on a 2 win team no less, an injury that caused Eli to have surgery on mind you, just because in his heart he felt he owed it to "us the fans", then of course, in typical cowardly fashion Miklasz uses that as a negative in defining Sam Bradford.
Shame on you you fat ass tub of lard!
So as this now appears like the eventual end of the road for #8 in St. Louis I tell you in all honesty even though I have never even met the man I have been shaken to my very core over this one. I tried to sleep but have been up since 2:00 am here outside of Pittsburgh, my head is pounding and my heart is racing. I remember all too well the details LAST YEAR when his mom and dad met him in the dressing room in Carolina, and I pray I never read of the out pouring that undoubtedly took place yesterday morning in St. Louis.
For the few here that know me they know I will always be a Ram fan, have been for 45 years.
But like when Warner left, I now will have a second team to root for and I will hope and pray that like Kurt, Sam will rise from this devastation and show the world what he is capable of.
As I drove home from coaching my 17 year olds fall baseball practice yesterday I received a text from my daughter at college who doesn't know a baseball from a hockey puck, it simply said "daddy are you ok? I just heard about Sammy B..."
When I got home my wife was sleeping and when I got up the strength to get the words out of my mouth as to what had happened she just starred at me in disbelief, she's not a Ram fan but she knows the depths to which I am both a fan of this team and of this player. She knows what a good role model this guy is and always defended him herself when the darkness of this world would attack him.
I will miss you as the QB of my favorite team Sam Bradford, more than you will ever know.
Best wishes always,
Rich P.