Bradford's return may prove to be costly decision

Published Sep. 8, 2009 5:19 p.m. ET

Peter Schrager

Seven months ago, I stood next to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and saw a young man on top of the world.

With a Heisman Trophy nestled under his arm, a mass of reporters circled around him and a date set with Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators for the 2008 BCS Championship up ahead, it was one of those "Could it get any better than this?" moments.

Bradford was in New York City for the Heisman ceremony that evening but really was in another universe altogether. On that frigid December evening, the Oklahoma sophomore was in rarified air.

Fast forward just a few months later, and the image of Bradford — pacing the sidelines in a grey tee shirt, with the very same arm that was holding the Heisman in December, now wrapped in a sling — helplessly watching from the outskirts during No. 3 Oklahoma's upset loss to No. 20 BYU, and well, it was the furthest thing from a young man sitting on top of the world.

That image — even more than the ghastly Oklahoma product on the field — was the hardest thing to stomach on Saturday night.

The injury to Bradford's throwing shoulder, suffered late in the second quarter of the 14-13 loss, was being described as a strained AC joint on Sunday. Though early reports have the Heisman gunslinger's recovery time listed at 2-4 weeks, who really knows? Any injury to a throwing shoulder is a giant question mark. And one suffered during the season?

It's not as simple as stamping a timeframe down and expecting all to be well when that return date suddenly arrives on the calendar.