Sam Bradford through most of his injury-plagued eight seasons in the NFL.And it looms large again as the 30-year-old quarterback went through the first practice of Arizona Cardinals training camp Saturday."I think you have to be optimistic Authentic Robert Nkemdiche Jersey ," he said. "I think if you're not optimistic, then the odds of staying healthy and the odds of playing well, they're probably not that great."Injuries have limited Bradford to 80 games in his eight seasons. He's twice torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and another left knee injury wiped out nearly all of his 2017 season in Minnesota.When the Cardinals found themselves without any quarterbacks following the retirement of Carson Palmer, they turned to Bradford, who — when healthy — has put up strong numbers.But Arizona also pulled off a deal that got them Josh Rosen in the draft, and Rosen has been impressive in offseason workouts. But for now, this is Bradford's team."I want Josh with the mentality that he wants to start," first-year Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said. "I don't waver that Sam is our starter. It's his job to lose and competition makes us better across the board."The Cardinals brought Bradford along slowly in the offseason and didn't make him a full participant in workouts until the three-day mandatory minicamp."His knee, talking to him, is stronger than it's ever been," Wilks said. "I think the plan that we created and put in place for him back when we signed him has been phenomenal, just with the training staff Womens Josh Rosen Jersey , physical therapy, strength and conditioning."Bradford would say only that his knee feels the best it has since the injury."I feel good right now," he said. "My body's' in a good place and I think now we'll see the benefits of the plan we had throughout OTAs and throughout the spring."Bradford signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Cardinals, with $15 million guaranteed. But this is about more than money for Bradford, whose career earnings are listed at $124 million. He signed the largest rookie deal in history as the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, a contract that guaranteed him $50 million before he threw a pass.The next season, rookie contracts were slotted at lower levels as part of the new labor agreement.So what keeps Bradford going, rehab after grueling rehab?"Just getting back out there and playing football," he said. "I think you just realize how much you enjoy it, how special it is to be out there, to play the game. That's really why I do this, why I continue to come back Authentic Budda Baker Jersey , it's to be there on Sundays and to be out there with my guys and play football again."Bradford's love of the game is clear to Wilks."That's what you see," the coach said. "He's made enough money that he's taken care of his family for the rest of his life. But his passion and love for the game and wanting to compete — and I think he has a lot doubters out there."When he can play, Bradford plays well.The only full game he played a year ago — Minnesota's season opener against New Orleans — he completed 27 of 32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. In his 15 starts with the Vikings in 2016, Bradford completed 72 percent of his passes for a career-high 3,877 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions.Since the end of OTAs, he's kept up individual workouts, simulating quarterback moves as he works to further strengthen his knee. Bradford understands that injuries come with his line of work."They happen. It's football," he said. "That's not really where my mind is. It's not something I think about. My mindset is just going out to practice every day, learning as much about this offense as I can, being a good teammate, being a good leader, being as good a quarterback as I can be."Flags, Picks and Fumbles Do In Cardinals First of all Authentic Chase Edmonds Jersey , I am happy that Steve Wilks finally went to Josh Rosen. I and many of you would have started the game today with Rosen—-and before anyone gets carried away with Sam Bradford’s two TDs—-those were easy throws that Rosen could have made and given the fans and his teammates something extra to be excited about.I accept the fact that Rosen is going to struggle at times—-but I also embrace the fact that that his passes come out with better zip and he is the best athlete the Cardinals have at the QB position. I stick by my opinion that had there been a true competition at QB this pre-season, Rosen would have won the job. The coaches have babied and coddled these QBs and it is one of the main reasons why the team is 0-3.By virtue of the fact that the Cardinals are paying Sam Bradford over $300,000 a game, and, even more so—-that Bradford under pressure took a horrible sack that prevented 3 points before the half (on the heels of Chandler Jones’ tipped pass and Tre’ Boston’s interception), that under pressure—-he fumbled twice and was intercepted twice on poorly thrown passes that weren’t open to begin with—-it’s time to let Sam go. He looked like he was starting to show some promise today—-until the mind-boggling delay of game penalty early in the 2nd quarter—-and after that—-Bradford was back to being the ineffective, chuck and duck QB he was the past two weeks.Please ask OC Mike McCoy to go with him. Any OC—-with the game on the line—-who would call (on 3rd and 2) a late developing off-tackle play to a rookie RB (a play that always runs the risk of giving up a TFL)—-with David Johnson on the bench—-should no longer deserve the privilege of being one of 32 coaches on the planet to call plays in the NFL.Coach Wilks you are right that the blocking on that play was the problem—-but—-the play call was the bigger problem—-when you’ve got two downs to make two yards you go right at them—-and you go right at them with your All Pro RB. The defense under Wilks and Al Holcomb was undisciplined and penalty-prone—-but they played hard for the most part and today they bended a lot, but only gave up one TD. That’s something to build on. The penalties however are tough to ignore or dismiss. Wilks and Holcomb dialed up an array of pressures that were largely successful and which caused turnovers—-so there is hope on the defensive side of the ball. Plus, the pass coverage was improved today—-again—-which was good to see.The special teams were pretty solid with the huge exception of the Bears’ gunner racing past Jamar Taylor to trip up Christian Kirk right off the catch on a 61 yard punt—-and—-at least in my way of thinking, Christian Kirk is a more dynamic threat at punt returner than Patrick Peterson. Peterson is flashing good leadership on defense, but he lost his nerve on punt returns 5 years ago and with Kirk on the roster, let Peterson stick to what he does best.Sad to see State Farm look and sound (in far too many sections) like it was a domed stadium in Illinois—-in a different State altogether.