The Stalwart in the Eagles Secondary
Eagles Cornerback James Bradberry won’t let one play define him.
One play does not define you; James Bradberry won’t let it.
If you have a long memory in life, you’ll more than likely be successful. If you have a long memory as an NFL cornerback, you won’t.
NFL cornerbacks don’t receive the fanfare attributed to NFL players like quarterbacks, running backs, or wide receivers. Often, when they do their job effectively, you don’t even hear their names.
In life, most people strive to reach the end of their day without life beating them. As an NFL cornerback, as sure as the sunrise, you’ll get beaten at some point. In an NFL secondary, you work every day not to give up the big play, to keep the opposing offense from sustaining drives, to keep everything in front of you, and to provide the officials with no opportunity to lay some yellow laundry at your feet.
On February 12th, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry experienced a cornerback’s worst nightmare.
With 1:54 left and Super Bowl LVII, Patrick Mahomes floated a pass in the direction of JuJu Smith-Schuster, which was incomplete in the end zone. As James turned around, a flag was on the field. The call was defensive holding. The Chiefs got a first down and kicked a field goal with only eight seconds left.
After the game, in the locker room, when speaking to the press, James Bradberry didn’t blame the referees. He took responsibility for the play. He told the media that he pulled Smith-Schuster’s jersey.
In February of last year, after the Super Bowl, Smith-Schuster sent a message to Bradberry on Twitter, thanking him for the hold. That wouldn’t shake his confidence.
Bradberry has always had confidence in himself. The Eagles do as well. In March, they re-signed him to a three-year, $38 Million deal.
James is always looking to improve.
Last year in Training Camp, he got himself matched up with one of the best receivers in the NFL. He battled hard with Brown’s quickness and strong 227-pound frame. On some plays, Brown got the best of him and made the reception. On others, Bradberry won the battle.
Then they lined up and reran it. Over and over.
Most future NFL players play different positions in high school. Bradberry was no exception. Defensive secondary, however, was always his calling. At Pleasant Grove High School in Alabama, Bradberry was a lockdown defensive player in the secondary. The team was a Region 5A-R5 Regional Champion in 2010. As a team captain, All-Metro, and first-team All-State, Bradberry has 9 interceptions and 45 tackles as a senior.
After a short time playing safety at Arkansas State University, James transferred to Samford. Not many people know where Samford University is located (Homewood, Alabama.) At Samford, he never looked back after starting at cornerback. In three seasons, Bradberry started 34 games for Samford.
In 2016, Bradberry was taken by the Carolina Panthers with the 62nd pick in the 2016 NFL draft. After four seasons, he signed with the Giants in 2021.
In 2022, he came to Philadelphia to play for the Eagles.
James Bradberry isn’t concerned about tweets or the media. He is only focused on improving. Overall, he is coming off one of his best seasons in 2022.
Like Jalen Hurts, he knows that adversity is always an opportunity for redemption.
This season, he’ll be part of a defense that will have to contend with Stephon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Cooper Kupp, Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, and DK Metcalf.
On Opening Day, they’ll see JuJu Smith-Schuster again.
James knows as a cornerback in the NFL; his memory needs to be short for things like this.
Because at cornerback, you are always defined by the next play.
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Categorized:Eagles