Bradford: Grade 3 sprain puts season in doubt

<p><em class="gnmEkDate">Originally Published: Sep 21, 2009 2:15 PM CDT</em></p>As we reported Sunday night, sources tell me the injury sustained by OU QB Sam Bradford is a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. That

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:17 pm

By: News 9

Originally Published: Sep 21, 2009 2:15 PM CDT

As we reported Sunday night, sources tell me the injury sustained by OU QB Sam Bradford is a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. That means there is a ligament tear and will quite possibly require surgery. Even if surgery is not required, it is my opinion that Bradford's career is over at Oklahoma. There are several reasons for the conclusion. But one stands high above the other: NFL. An NFL scout told me after Bradford's injury Saturday night during OU's loss to BYU that he had him No. 1 on his draft board a year ago. He said if Bradford took care of the shoulder that the body of work he's already got on game tape is plenty good enough for him to be a top pick- if not THE top pick in '10. Now if the injury is closer to a Grade 2 and if the non-evasive surgery is unneeded and if Bradford’s rehab goes very well, there is a case to be made that Bradford would want to come back. Those proponents believe coming back this season and having success and taking hard hits would prove his worthiness to the NFL. Maybe that's a good point, but it's not a good enough point to offset the downside. Bob Stoops saying today it's either a Grade 2 or Grade 3 and that it will be awhile before decisions are made. Safe words. The MRI has been sent to experts around the country who will opine soon. But doctors like Brock Schnoebel and his associates know enough about shoulders and serious injuries to know what this one looks like. Forgetting arguments like that one, the big news is twofold: We are told it is a Grade 3 injury—not good. And we have the opinion that Bradford will not play this season. What a horrible turn of events coming on the heels of TE Jermaine Gresham injuring a knee which now makes his comeback very much up in the air. It is very conceivable in the next week or so you will be reading that Gresham’s decision is the same as Bradford's—although there is now the question of whether the last time those two made a key decision it was the correct one. Two great kids. One team in a critical jam. And I mean critical. Adios....DB