Ex-Husker Bradley thrives in Philly
The hair is under control, but Stewart Bradley looks anything but under control as the middle linebacker of the Philadelphia Eagles.
He’s already piled up 33 tackles, earned the praise of TV commentators and picked up even more adoration from his teammates.
Eagles weakside linebacker Omar Gaither compared Bradley, a second-year player from Nebraska, to future Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears. NBC commentator John Madden echoed the sentiment.
“Brian Urlacher is a great player and to be mentioned with him is quite a compliment,” said Bradley, who played weakside linebacker at Nebraska through 2006. “An All-Pro, what, seven times and defensive player of the year. I don’t know about being in that category. But it’s nice to hear somebody said that.”
Bradley is already one of the favorites of Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
The Eagles lead the NFL in run defense, and Bradley has been one of the key reasons.
“We’ve got a great defensive front and that frees up the linebackers to make plays, but we do have a kind of swagger and belief in ourselves when it comes to playing defense,” Bradley said.
The Husker walk-on out of Utah was a third-round pick in the spring of 2007. He played on special teams and, with the injury to Takeo Spikes, played at linebacker the end of last season.
“I love playing middle linebacker ... maybe I should have been there in college,” he said. “But remember, I was playing alongside Bo Ruud, who was there. And the guy before that was Barrett Ruud. And he’s had a great time with Tampa Bay.”
Bradley said he keeps in contact with former Husker teammates Barrett Ruud, Bo Ruud (New England), Adam Carriker (St. Louis) and Jay Moore (San Francisco).
“When I get a chance I watch the Huskers, and things are looking better already,” he said. “I got to see a little more than a quarter of our game with Virginia Tech at a Chicago bar that was a Husker fan hangout, and I like what I saw.
“I think Bo Pelini is a great coach and he’ll do well there. I played for him when I was a freshman and I admired his style back then.”
Bradley has made some changes. His wild hair is now neatly trimmed. He still pursues his knowledge of French and architecture.
“I’ve gotten to take a couple of trips to Paris and one of my best friends speaks French fluently,” he said. “I can order good and ask directions. But I can’t carry on a discussion of existentialism or Sartre with somebody in French.”
Bradley also is dabbling in blogging these days with the Eagles at philadelphiaeagles.com in the “Bradley Blog.”
“I sit down once a week and try to get through a blog for the fans,” he said. “It’s fun. But a career in journalism after my playing days? Probably not. Never thought of that. Who knows.
“I’m trying to fit in on the Eagles’ defense right now,” he said. “We have a tough schedule since we’re in the NFC East. No easy games. But that’s the NFL.
“We have a great coaching staff and I really like working for bosses who have been here awhile — like (head coach) Andy Reid and Jim Johnson. I live in Philly now, and I really like the town.
“There’s not much I’d change except to have two of our losses back.”
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
He’s already piled up 33 tackles, earned the praise of TV commentators and picked up even more adoration from his teammates.
Eagles weakside linebacker Omar Gaither compared Bradley, a second-year player from Nebraska, to future Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears. NBC commentator John Madden echoed the sentiment.
“Brian Urlacher is a great player and to be mentioned with him is quite a compliment,” said Bradley, who played weakside linebacker at Nebraska through 2006. “An All-Pro, what, seven times and defensive player of the year. I don’t know about being in that category. But it’s nice to hear somebody said that.”
Bradley is already one of the favorites of Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
The Eagles lead the NFL in run defense, and Bradley has been one of the key reasons.
“We’ve got a great defensive front and that frees up the linebackers to make plays, but we do have a kind of swagger and belief in ourselves when it comes to playing defense,” Bradley said.
The Husker walk-on out of Utah was a third-round pick in the spring of 2007. He played on special teams and, with the injury to Takeo Spikes, played at linebacker the end of last season.
“I love playing middle linebacker ... maybe I should have been there in college,” he said. “But remember, I was playing alongside Bo Ruud, who was there. And the guy before that was Barrett Ruud. And he’s had a great time with Tampa Bay.”
Bradley said he keeps in contact with former Husker teammates Barrett Ruud, Bo Ruud (New England), Adam Carriker (St. Louis) and Jay Moore (San Francisco).
“When I get a chance I watch the Huskers, and things are looking better already,” he said. “I got to see a little more than a quarter of our game with Virginia Tech at a Chicago bar that was a Husker fan hangout, and I like what I saw.
“I think Bo Pelini is a great coach and he’ll do well there. I played for him when I was a freshman and I admired his style back then.”
Bradley has made some changes. His wild hair is now neatly trimmed. He still pursues his knowledge of French and architecture.
“I’ve gotten to take a couple of trips to Paris and one of my best friends speaks French fluently,” he said. “I can order good and ask directions. But I can’t carry on a discussion of existentialism or Sartre with somebody in French.”
Bradley also is dabbling in blogging these days with the Eagles at philadelphiaeagles.com in the “Bradley Blog.”
“I sit down once a week and try to get through a blog for the fans,” he said. “It’s fun. But a career in journalism after my playing days? Probably not. Never thought of that. Who knows.
“I’m trying to fit in on the Eagles’ defense right now,” he said. “We have a tough schedule since we’re in the NFC East. No easy games. But that’s the NFL.
“We have a great coaching staff and I really like working for bosses who have been here awhile — like (head coach) Andy Reid and Jim Johnson. I live in Philly now, and I really like the town.
“There’s not much I’d change except to have two of our losses back.”
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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