Sam Bradford signs contract extension with Philadelphia
Wednesday 2 March 2016 14:29, UK
The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a two-year contract extension with quarterback Sam Bradford, keeping him off the free-agent market.
The deal which will keep Bradford in Philadelphia through the 2017 season, is worth $36m with $26m in guaranteed money, according to ESPN.
The 28-year-old Bradford was acquired by the Eagles on the first day of the 2015 NFL league year in a trade that sent Nick Foles to the then-St. Louis Rams.
He finished the season with 3,725 passing yards (the fourth-highest single-season total in Eagles history), 19 touchdowns and a passer rating of 86.4.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and No 1 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft also set new franchise records with 346 completions and a 65.0 completion percentage.
New Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said in his introductory press conference that Bradford was a "perfect fit" for the offense Pederson plans to run and others in the organisation were also keen for him to stay.
"He has to be the guy," wide receiver Jordan Matthews said at the end of the season. "Point blank. Period. He has to be the guy. You gotta build. You've got to continue to grow with people. I think it goes without saying his maturation, what he's been able to do these past couple of games and how he's ended the season.
"You look at the numbers, OK, yeah, I knew he was going to get that regardless, you look at his leadership, how the guys are really starting to gravitate towards him, how they're starting to trust him and then the reps he's building with all of his receivers.
"You can look at Zach from the first part of the season to this part? It's night and day. You can look at me from the first part of the season to this part? It's night and day. So, like I said, he has to be the guy and I want him to be the guy."
