After yet another ACL injury last season, former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford thought about quitting for good.
And if it wasn't for an old friend and Sooners legend Josh Heupel, who was Bradford's quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma, he would have.
"It was one of those moments where, after all the time and energy and passion that he poured into rehabilitating himself in the first injury, you feel like you're snakebitten," Heupel told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "You don't know when, if, or how your body is going to respond and what your next opportunity is. You're really just in a lot of limbo. Sometimes, I think, just having a voice from an outside perspective is something that can be valuable."
While this will inevitably stir an already-brewing cyclone in Philadelphia surrounding the trade -- some might think Bradford's love of the game is waning, or something ridiculous like that -- it's refreshing to hear the human side of a story that is actually a little sad.
No one will feel bad for a bonus-baby quarterback who took home as much money as Bradford has over the years, but with so many people talking about how he was the best quarterback they've seen since Peyton Manning, there was always a hope that he'd flash some of that potential and stay injury-free.
So long as Chip Kelly does not trade him, he might have that chance. The System has made a better quarterback out of Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez alike. What could it do for a first overall pick who had an Andrew Luck-type pedigree?
Hopefully it means less distressful phone calls for Heupel, and more of us being treated to some fine quarterback play.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses C.J. Spiller's potential with the Saints and features the return of Win Wess' Toaster! Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
