PHILADELPHIA − James Bradberry insists that he’s over the bitter feelings from last May, when the Giants waited well after free agency began to release him, thus limiting his ability to sign a lucrative long-term contract with another team.
That’s why Bradberry, who then signed a one-year prove-it type deal with the Eagles, said he did not have the game against the Giants this Sunday circled on the calendar.
And yet, Bradberry wasn’t very convincing, much like Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown wasn’t last week leading into the Eagles’ game against his former team, the Tennessee Titans. Brown proceeded to torch his former team for 119 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns, and afterward admitted that it was a big deal to him.
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Chances are Bradberry won’t follow Brown’s example publicly. But as the stoic Brown explained at his locker Wednesday, it was clear that he still harbors some bitterness.
“Overall, I looked at the decision they made,” Bradberry said. “I don’t look at it as the Giants making the decision. I look at it as the team saying that, pretty much, my talent wasn’t needed for the team anymore … I got released because of the salary cap, and we weren’t winning.
“I understand that it’s a business at the end of the day.”
Bradberry said he knew all along that the Giants were trying to trade him after last season ended. He also knew that he would be released if the Giants couldn’t work out a trade. But instead of doing that in late March, when Bradberry could take advantage of a flush free agent market, the Giants waited until May 18, long after many teams had used up most, if not all, of their salary cap space.
At that point, Bradberry said he wanted to go to a team with the best chance to win, so he signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal worth $7.25 million, with incentives up to $10 million.
It was a big pay cut from the free agent deal Bradberry signed with the Giants in the spring of 2020. Back then, Bradberry signed a 3-year deal worth as much as $43.5 million. He had 7 interceptions in the two seasons, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2020.
But Bradberry was due to count $21.9 million against the Giants’ salary cap in 2022, an untenable amount. Still, the two sides could have worked on a contract restructuring, guaranteeing extra years, but at a much lower salary-cap hit.
That didn’t seem like a priority for the Giants behind new general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
So the Eagles swooped in, and Bradberry and fellow cornerback Darius Slay have formed one of the best cornerback pairings in the NFL.
“I mean, what’s our record right now?’ Bradberry said rhetorically when asked if he ever wonders what could have been with the Giants. “I’m 11-1, so really, I’ve been focused on playing for the Eagles. I really haven’t been worried about the Giants. But I am excited about playing a divisional game, and competing, and hopefully getting a win.”
Bradberry has 3 interceptions this season. He ranks second in the NFL with 14 passes defensed. He’s also second in opposing quarterback passer rating at 46.0, and fourth in opposing quarterback completion percentage at 45.5%.
Slay, who has often openly questioned why the Giants would let Bradberry leave, is also having a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
All of which has enabled the Eagles to fully take advantage of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme.
“(Opponents can’t say), ‘Hey, we’re going to attack this guy,'” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “If you think you’re going to attack the guy that’s the weak link, we don’t have a weak link. (Slay and Bradberry) are playing strong football, and they are both really good players.”
So what does this mean for Bradberry’s future with the Eagles?
Ideally, the Eagles would love to keep Bradberry and Slay together. But Bradberry is 29 years old and Slay will turn 32 next month. It’s likely that Bradberry wants to get paid once he’s eligible for free agency again next spring.
“I think my value is pretty high as a player − at least I hope so,” Bradberry said. “I’m open to staying here. (But) it’s going to be business first. And it has to make sense for me to stay here. And of course, they have to want me to stay here.”
No doubt, the Eagles do want Bradberry to stay. For now, Bradberry will face his former team knowing that his new team has helped put him in position to reap the financial rewards.
“I feel like I made the right decision,” he said.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
