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Sam Bradford must look over his shoulder for more than Carson Wentz

PHILADELPHIA – When players arrived for Philadelphia Eagles rookie camp last week, Sam Bradford's No. 7 jersey was waiting in a locker. Not for Bradford, mind you. Instead, it dangled in the stall of former Angelo State quarterback Kyle Washington, who was auditioning at wideout for the Eagles.

It's not something you see everyday, a tryout wide receiver being gifted the number of the $18 million per-season starting quarterback. Washington didn't request the number, either. When he showed up, it was waiting for him.

(AP)
(AP)

Is it a stretch to suggest this was a poke from management? Maybe. But nothing with the Sam Bradford situation is garden variety anymore. Not after he turned his nose up at $22 million in guaranteed money from the Eagles – more than any other team would have offered – and tried to force a trade to the Denver Broncos. In that one maneuver, Bradford erased his margin for error in Philadelphia. He made it clear he'd rather be somewhere else. That's what will resonate about Bradford from this point forward, accentuated by every miscue or loss. He conjured his own little hurricane, destined to envelop him until he's no longer a member of the Eagles.

In fairness, Bradford has reason for concern. The Eagles didn't give up a flotilla of draft picks for Carson Wentz to stunt the rookie's growth. If he shows significant progress early, Philadelphia will greet that problem with open arms, giddy to move his development along at whatever accelerated rate he can handle. If Bradford's salary is lost in the wash of Wentz's progress, the Eagles will sink that bankroll with a smile.

But it doesn't begin and end with Wentz. Presumed No. 2 quarterback Chase Daniel spent the past three seasons with head coach Doug Pederson in Kansas City and knows his offense better than anyone on the Philadelphia roster. So much so, Daniel will be the quarterback best positioned to aid Wentz's development – not Bradford. There's a possibility that Bradford struggles with Pederson's offense or can't get over his recent thin-skinned funk. If that makes Daniel the better starter and teacher, he'll be given that opportunity.

Wentz is the heavy investment. Daniel is the man with the most knowledge. As for Bradford, well, he's looking more and more like the withering incumbent, dragging around a 25-37-1 starting record and a failed attempt to force a trade to Denver. And the latter isn't the kind of thing that wins a lot of hearts and minds in the locker room.

All of which is why it won't be a surprise to see Wentz start at some point in his rookie season. The draft investment and the knowledge of scheme all paint the same for this franchise: a tandem of Wentz and Daniel, with Bradford being the odd man out after this season. You can bet Wentz knows that, too.

Prior to Bradford's trade request, the Eagles had a plan to protect Wentz with two layers of depth chart insulation, allowing him to learn and grow without the pressure often placed on highly drafted rookie quarterbacks. If he showed progress, he'd be advanced. If he needed a longer timeline, Bradford and Daniel were in place to allow that. All the while, the Eagles can develop the rest of the offensive continuity surrounding the quarterback. That includes an offensive line and multitude of skill position players who all have to find chemistry within the scheme, too. If those players struggle, Philadelphia wants either Bradford or Daniel dealing with that fallout, not Wentz.

Carson Wentz (AP)
Carson Wentz (AP)

That plan was predicated on Bradford being a willing participant, someone who could be a professional and not create an uncomfortable rift in the quarterback room. Whether that harmony can still be achieved is anyone's guess but there's no getting around the damage Bradford has done. He can't claim that he has anyone else's best interests in mind going forward. While he may want to succeed with the Eagles, that will always be seen as a function of him wanting to bolster an opportunity elsewhere.

Conversely, Wentz has handled the situation without a hiccup thus far, perfectly straddling a line between seeking competition and doing whatever is deemed best for the Eagles. That's exactly what Philadelphia is looking for from him, a masterstroke of deference to the plan and the long-term success of the team. And when the time comes for Wentz to rightfully seek more, the Eagles brain trust will put him in a place to do that.

That can change, of course. Maybe Wentz craters in his adjustment to the speed of the NFL or suffers an unforeseen injury. Or Daniel never makes good on Pederson's faith that he could be a reliable bridge starter. Maybe Bradford suddenly blossoms into a healthy, elite quarterback in his seventh NFL season. That rarely happens at this level, but Bradford is still playing for pride and another long-term deal. The personal and financial motivation remains, even if the results have suggested greatness isn't in the cards.

There will always be variables in the plan. Bradford has proven that once already. What won't change is the damage that has already been done. Bradford returns this week to team workouts in the middle of his own self-generated storm, one that has opened the door for Wentz and bolstered opportunity for Daniel. Maybe it speeds up a process the Eagles have had in the design all along.

Undoubtedly, this unfolding reality is what had Bradford worried in the first place. It may have arrived sooner than the Eagles anticipated. And Bradford has himself to thank for it.