NY Times: Tebow and Bradford Face Quick Decisions on N.F.L. Draft
 

Tebow and Bradford Face Quick Decisions on N.F.L. Draft
By PETE THAMEL and THAYER EVANS

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After spending the season as college football’s marquee stars, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford now hold the biggest off-season question in their hands.

Tebow, a junior, and Bradford, a redshirt sophomore, face a Thursday deadline for nonseniors to declare for the N.F.L. draft. And while each is a Heisman Trophy winner and a homegrown star at his state’s university, they project much differently as N.F.L. prospects. Both have filed paperwork with the N.F.L. to see where they are likely to be picked in April’s draft. Two rabid fan bases will be waiting anxiously for their decisions.

Gil Brandt, a former Dallas Cowboys executive and an analyst for NFL.com, said that he believed Bradford would be a top-10 pick and that Tebow would go in the lower half of the first round.

Tebow said Thursday night that he felt a strong emotional pull to return to college but that he would determine what was best for his career and his family.

The decision may be trickier for Bradford.

One N.F.L. scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to talk publicly about draft prospects, said Bradford was a “no-brainer” overall No. 1 pick and compared him to Troy Aikman, the first pick in the 1989 draft.

“When you’ve watched him at Oklahoma over the years, he sticks out like a sore thumb,” the scout said. “He’s not a nickel-dime, dink-and-dunk guy. He throws those deep balls as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Bradford is ranked No. 1 by some draft experts, and there are only minor questions about him. Bradford, 21, has not quite filled in his 6-foot-4 frame — he is listed at 218 pounds — and Oklahoma’s offense has kept him from facing much pass-rush pressure. Still, the positives are considered impressive.

“He’s got the size, the arm, the feet and the release,” the scout said. “He makes good decisions. He seems like a really easy guy to evaluate.”

Another factor that may sway Bradford is that Oklahoma is losing four senior offensive linemen. And as many as three of Oklahoma’s top four receivers may not return, meaning that Bradford would have a drastically different cast around him. The Sooners scored 716 points this season, a modern N.C.A.A. record, and Bradford threw for 50 touchdowns with 8 interceptions.

Bradford’s most telling comment this week might have come when he was asked if he would be watching the N.F.L. playoffs.

“I’m not a big N.F.L. guy,” he said. “I don’t watch a lot of it.”

After Thursday night’s loss, Bradford said he was unsure of his future.

“Obviously, I’ll think about it within the next week,” he said. “It’s something that I haven’t put a lot of concentration into it.”

Tebow’s N.F.L. future is a bit murkier. The scout, who said he was not sold on Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, an early entry for the draft, said that Tebow could be the second-best quarterback prospect but one with glaring deficiencies. Some have speculated that Tebow could end up as a fullback or a tight end because of his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame. The scout sees Tebow as a quarterback, but one that has to be looked at skeptically because he is not a natural passer.

The scout said the bottom line comparison between the two was that Bradford made big plays with his arm this season and Tebow made them with his legs. Tebow was No. 4 nationally in passing efficiency entering Thursday night’s game and finished the season with 30 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions.

“I think he’ll be back,” Florida’s offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen, said. “He’ll make a very educated decision. He’ll look at all the options, and if he’s a first-rounder, he’ll probably leave, but if he’s not, he won’t.”

Florida Coach Urban Meyer would obviously like Tebow to return but said he would be a fine N.F.L. quarterback.

“When I hear people say, ‘I wonder if he can play in the N.F.L.’, then I don’t know what football is,” Meyer said. “I don’t have any idea what happens in the N.F.L. Scoring points and taking care of the ball, third-down efficiency are important. He can play at any level, anywhere.”

Scouts express few doubts about Bradford’s readiness, but Brandt said Bradford’s value would be even higher in next year’s draft.

“This is a guy that needs to stay in school,” Brandt said. “He’s really started to develop in the last year.”

We should not go for a QB in in the first 2 rounds.

BPA, and if it's a QB you grab him.

:spock:

I really hope he comes out....

There's a chance that Tebow, Harvin and/or Spikes make an announcement tomorrow at the national championship celebration.

On the Sports Animal in OKC yesterday an OU insider said he believed Bradford was leaning towards staying in colege. I find that hard to believe but this guys information is usually pretty good. He said he wouldn't rule out Bradford going but said he heard some things after Thursday's game that made him believe Bradford would stay.

Good luck with a new line and wide receivers if he does. That decision could cost him millions.

I'd be shocked if all three DON'T stay in school and try to win another NC.

Hopefully they all come out. As a Bronco fan, I'd only really be interested in Spikes. However, the more players that announce at a position that isn't in demand for the Broncos, the more likely that a player in need falls.

Maybe that will be good for the Chiefs ... if we fail to get our QBOTF this year, his stock drops and we can get him where we will draft next year.

I prefer he come out and give us a chance at him or Stafford.

Tebow needs to stay until his Senior year though. The guy is too raw, and need an awesome QB coach to teach better mechanics, footwork, and the nuances like not zeroing in at one or two targets. I believe he can do it, but he'll have to work his balls off.

Tebow isn't an NFL caliber QB... PERIOD.

Having a decent (not great game) against a mediocre Oklahoma defense is not going to convince me otherwise.

I've never read an article that uses periods in "N.F.L."

I was about to mention the same thing, but you beat me to it.

Then I guess you've never read the New York Times.