Rams coach Jeff Fisher said recently that quarterback Sam Bradford had input into the changes on the team’s offensive coaching staff, which were highlighted by the promotion of Frank Cignetti from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
Fisher said Cignetti wouldn’t have gotten the job if Bradford offered a strong objection and added that previous hints that the team wanted to bring in competition for Bradford weren’t about “challenging” a player that Fisher talked about as if he were on top of the depth chart. That approach doesn’t seem like one destined to make restructuring Bradford’s $13 million salary in 2015 an easy task, which may be why General Manager Les Snead went in a different direction on Wednesday’s edition of PFT Live.
Snead said that the team wants to have Bradford back in 2015 and that he plans to “chat” with the quarterback’s representatives about his contract, but stopped well short of saying that Bradford’s definitely the starter upon returning from two torn ACLs.
“I can’t say he’s top of the depth chart because he’s missed 25 [of the last 32] games,” Snead said.
Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reports that Bradford’s been given the green light to explore possible trades, although his current contract and medical uncertainty make it hard to imagine that too many teams will be lining up to give St. Louis assets for the right to acquire Bradford. If the Rams and Bradford can agree on a deal that cuts his salary while offering the ability to make some or all of it back through incentives, his return for a sixth year in St. Louis seems like the likeliest outcome.
UPDATE 4:26 p.m. ET: During his press conference at the combine, Snead was asked about the report regarding giving Bradford permission to seek a trade. Snead said he wouldn’t blame a team for being interested in trading for Bradford, but that “deleting” him was not an answer to the team’s needs.