It's Sammy B's team now

The making of an NFL quarterback is a fascinating process. A year ago at this time, the pro football world was awaiting confirmation that Sam Bradford was as good as advertised. He was the No.1 pick in the NFL Draft, and he was in the early stages of learning his craft.
Surrounded by teachers who were trying to teach him new techniques and an entirely new football language — not to mention dealing with the scrutiny of teammates and legions of hard-bitten pro football wise guys who are not easily impressed — young Mr. Bradford passed with flying colors.

He was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year. He set an NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception. He opened eyes and removed all doubt about his ability to hold up under the physical pounding at this level. Yet now we are on the verge of his second season in the NFL as the Rams starting QB, and the same eyes are on him again.

Since we live in a "what have you done for me lately" world in pro sports, we have to pay close attention to these things. So consider this the Bradford Update 2011: The kid isn't a kid anymore, and he's dead set on getting better.

The throws are getting better. His command of Josh McDaniels' new offense is shockingly good and his willingness to assume leadership of this team — his team — is now complete. And just in case you were wondering, he is not looking for modest, incremental improvement for the Rams.
He's convinced the Rams can win the Super Bowl.

Not in the future, people. He's talking about right here, right now. When asked what his goals were for this season recently, Bradford didn't play coy.

"A trophy," he said with a glimmer in his eyes. As in the tall, sterling silver Lombardi Trophy? "Uh huh," he said, smiling even more. "Why else are we in this business?"

This came up a lot during the summer as Bradford sat with all the national football writers who came to camp ready to praise Bradford and the Rams for last year's 7-9 season. And every time that happened, Bradford got angry. He told them he did not come to St. Louis with the intent of being average. He came here for the same reason he went to Oklahoma. It's the same reason he used to give his best childhood friend the silent treatment when as 11-year-olds they were playing childhood games in the summer sun.

If they're keeping score, Bradford wants to win.

"That was my whole point in getting angry with those (reporters)," Bradford said. "Every time I was asked (if he was pleased with last season), I was thinking who in their right mind sets out to go 7-9? If you do that, that is so far from the right mind set that you're almost like not even allowing yourself the chance to succeed. ... It's a joke really."

There is nothing in Bradford's competitive DNA that suggests he wants to do anything modestly on the field of play.