Stewart Bradley lost for the season after ACL tear
by JasonB on Aug 3, 2009 4:53 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Eagles News
Email
PrintLast night at the Eagles' "Flight Night" fans saw Stewart Bradley limp off the field with an apparent knee injury. Turns out, the injury was serious. Bradley tore his ACL and will now miss the entire year.
Bradley has a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will end his season, his agent, Eric Metz, confirmed to the Daily News' Les Bowen. Metz said the injury is a "complete tear." Metz said they are examining their options as to who will perform the surgery.
"Stew seems to be handling it well," Metz said. "He's a mature, tough kid."
Obviously this is a tremendous blow to the Eagles defense. Bradley is coming off a very good first year as a starter and looked to be one of the real emerging stars on this Eagles defense.
One can't help but wonder whether this injury was more, less, or just as likely to happen up at Lehigh as it was during this "Flight Night" thing where the Eagles practiced in front of 30k fans at the Linc... It's a question I hope someone asks of Andy Reid.
Find out why all is not lost at the middle LB position, and see video of the injury after the jump.
Middle linebacker happens to one of the positions on the defense where there is experienced, veteran depth. Omar Gaither started and played well at the MIKE on this team for an entire season. In fact, I think most would agree that he was better at MIKE in 2007 than he was at WILL last year. It's always a blow to lose a starter, but at least the Eagles won't be relying on a rookie or inexperienced player to step in here. Gaither knows the defense, he has experience as the primary signal caller, and he's started at the position in the NFL. The other guy int he mix will be 2nd year man Joe Mays.
The other reason for optimism was something that I noted back in the position preview of the defensive tackles. Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley really did a lot to keep blockers off the linebackers, which freed up Bradley to make plays. This is not to take anything away from Bradley, but I think Omar might find that he has more room and freedom to move around than he did when he started at the MIKE back in 2007.
All that said, I don't want to appear like I'm sugar coating this too much. This is a big loss. Bradley was an important part of what made the Eagles defense so good last year. There's a reason he won that MIKE job last year and there's a reason certain major publications were calling him an all pro... The Eagles' D isn't quite as strong as it was up the middle today as it was yesterday and the depth becomes that much more thin.
48 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
One can’t help but wonder whether this injury was more, less, or just as likely to happen up at Lehigh as it was during this “Flight Night” thing where the Eagles practiced in front of 30k fans at the Linc… It’s a question I hope someone asks of Andy Reid.
Reid answer will be… verbatim… “I’m not gonna get into all of that.”
by JimmyK on Aug 3, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Bad luck strikes early
hopefully this won’t be the trend for the Eagles this year. He’s an absolute beast… maybe everyone judging his outfit choice lead him to try to prove himself by playing harder than he should have resulting in the tear…. i blame everyone on this blog!!!
Eagles.
by #1EaglesFan on Aug 3, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions
Man this just sucks!
I had super high hopes for Bradley this year.
Included a Pro Bowl and SB ring
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
“One can’t help but wonder whether this injury was more, less, or just as likely to happen up at Lehigh "
Or during the preseason or in-season games. Better it happens now and we can prepare for it if it is going to happen.
YUP
better now with whomever is taking over getting first team snaps then right before the season.
Astra Inclinant, Non Necessitant
by EagleGreeninMD on Aug 3, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously. I’ve watched other videos of ACL injuries when it “pops” and the victims can barely move. SB was stretching it out, immediately put weight on the leg and made it to the sideline pretty casually. This was totally unexpected for me.
by Scott in Shaw on Aug 3, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Michael Westbrook tore his knee up
And played out the game, hauling in a few TDs and recording like a career high in receiving yards then was shelved once the game was over. Not sure how some make the injury look pedestrian, but it happens. Too bad his reaction wasn’t indicative of the serverity of the injury.
http://poorsportsblog.blogspot.com/
by PoorSports on Aug 3, 2009 9:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
hmmm..
would it be fair to say though that Michael Westbrook was never the same player after that injury though?
No way playing on a torn ACL does anything but harm in the long run (no pun int.)
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
I’ve torn both ACLs at different points in my life (one playing football) and seeing him stretch the knee back and forth and then hop up and jog off was mind boggling. Both times I tore mine it was an excruciating pain and I could barely stand afterwards. Stewart Bradley just made me feel like a pussy.
But such a shame for this D. If someone would have asked me a week ago to pick one player that I would want to stay healthy all year on that defense I would have said Bradley. He seemed primed to be the leader.
We’ll find out about injuries to linebacker Stewart Bradley (knee) and cornerback Ellis Hobbs (stinger), although my sixth sense says both players will be OK.
-Dave Spadaro
This is why we dont listen to you Dave.
"If they end up 2-14 and both of those wins came against Dallas, that's a pretty good year."
mays
lets give the kid a chance… undersized but all he does is tackle
derrick brooks
why dont the eagles go after derrick brooks??.. nobody else wants him, hell be cheap, and hes still a productive payer.. better than any other option they have on the team.. this is the time to swallow their pride and go get the player thats goin to make an immediate impact..
i say that before we all hit the panic button on this, we look back realize that omar gaither played MLB well 2 years ago and joe mays was extremely impressive in the preseason last year. the solution is already on the roster. i believe we will be fine
But I love the panic button!!
As a Philadelphia sports fan, I can’t help myself. Must…..push…..button…..Panic!!!! WoooHoooo!!
Sometimes it's just fun to take the family for a spin around the lake in the old boat. Even if it's not your family or your boat, and they're screaming for you to stop.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Aug 3, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Without taking anything away from Bradley
who was a pretty good player, the biggest impact is from the loss of depth. Giants’ fans know this just from last year. Kiwi replaced Osi and came out like gangbangers at the start of the year (I believe he had 6 of his 7.5 sacks in the first 8 games). But when he wore down, there was nobody of true quality behind him. It’s not a question of who replaces Bradley, it’s who replaces that player? Say Gaither moves over. Who takes his spot (please say Gocong)? If Mays steps up into the middle, who takes over when he needs a break, or heaven forbid gets hurt himself? I’m not gloating, because I had exactly the same feeling last year watching Osi on the cart, and hopefully won’t have to go through it again this year. It leaves an empty feeling all year watching your team not having all it’s pieces, and unless they win the SB you will always ask What if?
Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!
by bigbluethruandthru on Aug 3, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions
Nothing against your arguement (which is very good), but
te reason why the Giants didn’t go to the Superbowl, where they could have easily repeated is that you guys did not have Burress, and we were able to have 8 men in the box w/out worrying about Burress.
And I was just going through the headlines on Yahoo about 4 minutes ago and there is no story that has a headline about Bradley. Of course, IMO Yahoo’s the most accurate, but the slowest, when it comes to reporting stuff. So if it’s not on there, it must not be true……………yet.
by eaglemaniac814 on Aug 3, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
why the Giants didn’t go to the Superbowl, where they could have easily repeated is that you guys did not have Burress, and we were able to have 8 men in the box w/out worrying about Burress
I’d love to quickly take credit for stating that point the day the news of the shooting came out
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
i havnt seen anything on it anwwhere.
"Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
stupid stupid stupid
computer. i meant to say..
i have yet to see this mentioned anywhere. si.com has nothing and i just watch sportscenter and i saw nothing of this formentioned injury. im not saying its not true but wtf? a starter on a playoff caliber team goes down for the season and all i see is how plaxico “im being indicted for my stupid off the field issues” burress is being indicted for his stupid off the field issues. i swear philly teams get shafted by the media.
"Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
ok so espn.com has it but sportscenter failed for me. i watch sportscenter so i need not waste time on a .com
"Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
Say Gaither moves over. Who takes his spot (please say Gocong)? If Mays steps up into the middle, who takes over when he needs a break, or heaven forbid gets hurt himself?
Gaither played MLB for the 2007 and play rather good. So, assuming we don’t pick anyone up, we have few options with out linebacking corp.
Option 1: SAM: Gocong MIKE: Gaither WILL: Jordon; Backup MIKE: Mays
This is the option I would see the most probable. All starters played in their respective spot before and Mays would be able to see the field when Gaither need a breather and get some experience.
Option 2: SAM: Gocong MIKE: Mays WILL: Jordon; Backup MIKE: Gaither
This would be a gamble to do with MIKE with Mays starting instead of Gaither. But Reid made surprises before (Jeff Garcia over A.J. Feely in 2006 after McNabb injury; Hanson started Cardinal game last year instead of Lito Sheppard when Samuel went down for a game), so it’s not out of the question.
Option 3: SAM: Gocong MIKE: Mays WILL: Gaither; Backup MIKE: ?
Dumb. No actually backup MIKE (unless we put in Akeem Jordon in there, which I doubt), and still a gamble to put Mays in MIKE spot. Gaither was also benched last year while playing WILL so I doubt they’ll go with Gaither over Jordon at WILL to start the season.
RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.
by Imp on Aug 3, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
gangbangers?
hrm, I’m afraid to ask, so I won’t. It may show that Giants fans are just as depraved as we are.
The term I beleve you seek is “gangbusters.”
by Bisch on Aug 3, 2009 7:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LOL
i read that as gangbusters did he really write gangbangers?
He did!
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
Whoops :(
Yeah I knew what I meant to say. And I hate to be disagreeable (really I do) but we put up over 350 yards of offense. The reason we lost the playoff game is because we came away with like 3 points on 3 red zone trips. Could he have made a difference in the red zone? Without a doubt. But it’s a fact that every game without Burress the Giants were statistically better than with him. And not sacking McNabb once in a season is unforgivable, and not on Burress at all. My original point is not how you replace Bradley in the starting lineup. I’m saying wouldn’t you be more comfortable with Mays and Gocong coming off the bench? He may not be missed week 1, but by the end of the year lack of depth will tell.
Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!
by bigbluethruandthru on Aug 4, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions
publicity stunt to pump money out of fans. Nothing more
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Aug 3, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
And it interrupts what is an actually important practice schedule. Rather than run his camp the way he wants to, Andy was directed to put a show on for the fans. That’s what games are for, not practice.
tht is y is should be boycotted
next year we have to get a boycott of it so this scam can be stopped
i take tht back
the money was given to charity so i take tht back
Not to jump on a bandwagon
but what about a guy like Derrick Brooks. He is still a FA right?
Could use the depth and the experience even if the legs arent there like they used to be…
And to JpH I hear you about Flight night, but the simple fact of the matter is it could have easily happened at Lehigh.
I have raised this question before… I like that we hit so much in training camp… but sometimes, it really messes us up too.
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
We still have tons of talent... but do we have a defensive unit?
I admit I’m worried…. Dawkins was our leader… JJ was our scheme master
For any discussion of how good he might have been this season… Bradley was our MLB and obviously was the guy that knew this defense and where everyone was supposed to be.
We asked the question when Dawkins left…. who is the leader on the defense? I look at our roster and don’t see one.
yeah i gotta admit...
From teh day Dawk left i saw Bradley as the new leader
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
where are you seeing this?
This is the year. Calling it now. Dont tell me you werent told about it in July
maybe it was my eyes, but
when he was kicking his leg up and down, his foot looked like it was too far in to have all his ligaments in tact. the clip’s at the end of the blog. it’s from about 0:30-0:40.
by eaglemaniac814 on Aug 3, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Brown is our leader
Seventy-one percent of the world is covered by water, the rest is covered by Brian Dawkins
HES GONE
It is now truly official, the eagles have now signed a lb. He has been lost for the season. That is too bad i thought he was ready for a great year.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bleeding Green Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Tiquan Underwood, cut on Super Bowl eve, is a Patriot again
- Woman at Giants Super Bowl parade can’t wait to see Mark Sanchez (video)
- Bradying is sweeping the nation (for the next 48 hours or so)
- Knowshon Moreno charged with DUI; has a license plate that reads ‘SAUCED’
- Giants fan who won $50,000 on Super Bowl safety will donate winnings to charity
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
