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New Jersey – So what is going on with RB Ahmad Bradshaw on the Jets? You hear conflicting reports. Let’s take a closer look.
Bradshaw said this morning, on the NFL Network, he’s interested in playing for the Jets.
“The New York Jets are a team that I’m excited to hear about, just to stay home, not make a big move from New York,” Bradshaw said. “It’s just right across the street from where I am now.”
This quote led to a couple of interesting tweets from Jets beat writers.
“Free agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw expressed his interest in Jets this morning on NFLNetwork. The NYJ position on Bradshaw: Thanks, but no thanks,” tweeted Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
Shortly thereafter, his arch-rival, Brian Costello of the New York Post, fired back.
“A source told me the Jets would not rule out Ahmad Bradshaw but he would have to come very cheap for them to seriously consider it,” tweeted Costello.
Not to pick sides, especially since I don’t know who their sources are, but I have to say the perspective of the Costello source makes more sense.
Right now, Bradshaw is rehabbing from foot surgery, so theoretically, no team should be interested in him until his foot is healed. He’s been troubled by foot problems the last few years, and this surgery was long overdue.
“I am just trying to get as healthy as I can before I talk to any team,” Bradshaw said. “I haven’t really talked to anybody. I feel like this surgery was very well needed; I feel better already.
“I should have gone through the surgery last year instead of getting the stem cell, but I felt great after getting the stem cell last year; I felt it was a great success. It felt great up until the sixth or seventh game last year and I played through pain the rest of the season. [After having the latest surgery] I will be ready to go for whoever I play for this [coming year].”
If Bradshaw’s prophesy in that last sentence is correct, the Jets should absolutely be interested (if the price is right).
Bradshaw is only 26, and one of the best, toughest backs in the league, and a guy who never has to come off the field – he can do it all – run, catch and block.
The blocking of tailbacks is an underrated aspect of the position. The Jets missed LaDainian Tomlinson last year in blitz pickup. Their tailbacks were very inconsistent as blockers last year.
Bradshaw excels in this area.
“With Eli Manning, I took pride in protecting him and helping my lineman,” Bradshaw said. “I have always been there for those guys. I take pride in protection also, so running isn’t always the key.”
If his foots checks out okay in a few months, of course the Jets should kick the tires on this guy.
But they just have to be careful. Some in the medical community think Bradshaw is always going to have issues with his feet because he’s bow-legged.
February 12, 2013
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