NFL roundup: Sam Bradford traded to Vikings
By Brad Weiss
The Minnesota Vikings lost their starting quarterback to an injury this past week, so on Saturday, they swung a trade for Sam Bradford.
It was the opening weekend for college football, but it was a former Heisman Trophy winner that grabbed the headlines early. The Minnesota Vikings made a trade for Sam Bradford on Saturday, as they try to solidify their quarterback situation for the 2016 season. Bradford was slated to be the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he will now be the main guy when the Vikings open up their new stadium.
Over in Philadelphia, rookie Carson Wentz will be the team’s starter when he is healthy. The second overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft will get to play right away, which is a long way from the third-string spot he was supposed to occupy.
It was a whirlwind day for Mark Sanchez, who began the day as a member of the Denver Broncos. By the time the day had ended, he was a Dallas Cowboy, after signing a deal with America’s Team. The Broncos had made Sanchez one of their cuts, and in turn, saved a ton of money and the draft pick they owed the Philadelphia Eagles. With Dallas, Sanchez will be the backup to rookie Dak Prescott.
Staying with the quarterbacks, the San Francisco 49ers named their starter on Saturday. Head Coach Chip Kelly announced that Blaine Gabbert would be the No. 1 QB when the team opens up their season on Monday Night Football. Colin Kaepernick, who has dominated the sports headlines due to his refusal to stand during the national anthem, will be the second-stringer. Kaepernick has chosen not to stand as a way to bring light to racial oppression in America.
All NFL teams had to have their rosters cut to 53 by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, and there were some big names left off rosters. One former starter was Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett, the team’s leading rusher the past two seasons. With Forsett out of the picture, the team will likely go with a tandem of Javorius Allen and Terrance West.
Other notable cuts were Green Bay Packers OG Josh Sitton, New York Jets CB Dee Milliner, Seattle Seahawks OG Jahri Evans, New York Giants RB Andre Williams, and Indianapolis Colts LB Nate Irving.
Next: 2016 NFL season: Record predictions for all 32 teams
Lastly, the Chicago Bears locked up Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long to a contract extension on Saturday. Long inked a four-year, $40 million dollar extension, as the three-time Pro Bowler will stay with the team that drafted him back in 2013. During his career, Long has started 47 of his 48 games, and will be key to keeping quarterback Jay Cutler upright for the next four years.