The bad news for Sam Bradford is that his ankle injury will sideline him today against the Bengals, and probably for the rest of the season, too -- and he’s had a lousy season even when he’s been healthy.
The good news is that the Rams still see him as their franchise quarterback.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Rams are likely to shut Bradford down for the season and stick with Kellen Clemens as the starter the rest of the way, but that the Rams still believe in Bradford as their long-term solution at quarterback. Some observers, including ESPN’s Jon Gruden, have said Bradford looks so bad this year that the Rams should consider drafting a quarterback like Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III. But that’s not in the cards.
Having Bradford in the fold could set up the Rams to trade down in the draft with a team that wants a quarterback. The Rams are likely to have either the second or third overall pick in next year’s draft, and if Andrew Luck, Griffin and USC’s Matt Barkley all turn pro, the second or third pick is going to be very attractive to a team that wants a franchise quarterback. Trading down may be one of the ways the Rams start putting some talent around Bradford.