Details continue to trickle out regarding the courtship process that led to Sam Bradford re-signing with the Eagles a day after the news was announced. Tim McManus of Birds247.com reported that Doug Pederson, the latest head coach that the Eagles quarterback will play for, played a key role in bringing Bradford back to Philadelphia for at least one more season.
Doug Pederson's role in the Bradford signing; impact on DeMarco Murray situation; and more: https://t.co/8TynpTZHFt
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) March 2, 2016
Here are some of the details that McManus was able to gather from people close to the situation.
Doug Pederson played a significant role in selling Sam Bradford on the idea of re-signing with the Eagles, according to multiple people familiar with the situation.
“Pederson was able to get (Bradford) to believe that Philadelphia was a place for him to thrive,” one source said. Another added that Pederson’s efforts “absolutely helped” get Bradford back under contract…
Through private conversations with the quarterback (as well as public endorsements), Pederson was able to help Bradford feel good about both his place on the team and where things were headed in Philly, and comfortable with how he would fit in the offense.
Now, everything in its proper context. It appears there wasn't much of a market for Bradford. The fact that Tom Condon – one of the toughest negotiators in the business — didn't take Bradford to free agency suggests to me that he didn't feel it would help his leverage. If there were other suitors willing to pay Bradford veteran starter money out there, seems like a no-brainer to introduce them into the equation to play one off the other. That didn't happen.
Pederson won't be able to demonstrate any of his hands-on coaching ability for a few more months. That said, according to McManus's sources, he was able to deliver a strong enough sales pitch that, paired with the market for Bradford, assured him of some stability at the quarterback position for his first season running the show. For those having pegged Pederson as a 'yes man' or figurehead of sorts, hearing his involvement in the re-recruitment of Bradford should put some of those concerns to rest for now.
McManus also addressed another issue that the Eagles will be dealing with to a certain extent in the coming months. Running back DeMarco Murray, whose unhappiness in Philadelphia has been reported on multiple occasions, has been tied to Bradford since his arrival last offseason. According to McManus, Bradford's return could affect Murray's attitude going forward with the Eagles.
Does it impact Murray's mindset knowing that Bradford — his old roommate at Oklahoma — is back in the fold, helping to clear up a cloudy quarterback picture?
"No doubt," said a source familiar with the running back's thinking.
Not that this should be viewed as some sort of cure-all.
Murray would probably still welcome a trade to an upper-echelon team, and the Eagles likely wouldn't mind unloading the back, who carries a fully-guaranteed base salary of $7 million this season. But negotiating a split this year won't be easy, which means that they may have to find a way to make the most of being paired with one another in '16. The presence of Bradford could help in that respect from Murray's side.
Given all the reported locker room turmoil that swirled around the Eagles last season, providing a remedy to that toxicity is essential to getting the franchise back on track. The team-wide enthusiasm, both on social media and apparently behind closed doors, would indicate that the re-signing of Bradford is a move that will help that process. Ultimately, Bradford's performance will determine whether or not the decision was the correct one. That said, another move that brings more stability to the locker room will only make Doug Pederson's job easier in 2016.
Somers Price is a contributor for Eagledelphia and can be followed on Twitter @somersprice
