Condon Falls on His Sword for Bradford

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Tom Condon further explained Sam Bradford's bizarre actions in the wake of the Eagles selecting his presumptive successor, Carson Wentz, in last month's NFL Draft.

The veteran agent explained on yet another media tour that it was his idea to ask the Eagles for a trade and threaten to miss voluntary workouts in an effort to get his client on the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

“They made a business decision and we made one, too,” Condon said on The Rich Eisen Show. “We thought we had a chance to go to a really good football team and be there for a long time, and that opportunity was there, and the attempt was made."

Condon delved further into the Denver manipulation on Stephen A. Smiths SiriusXM radio show.

“Can we improve our situation?” Condon asked Smith rhetorically. “The Denver Broncos certainly needed a quarterback at the time. Or it looked like they could need a quarterback at the time. They’ve got Mark Sanchez. Good guy, good player. But was there a chance that we could get there? And so Sam withdrew from the workouts and voiced his displeasure, and at that point the desired result occurred. The Denver Broncos engaged with Philadelphia.”

The Eagles and Howie Roseman, however, responded with an Alex Smith-level of expectation, with two NFL sources confirming to 973espn.com that Philadelphia's asking price for Bradford was two second-round picks.

Needless to say that was a non-starter for John Elway and trade talks were quickly DOA.

"It was just that when the Broncos contacted the Eagles and talked about a trade, they couldn’t agree on a price, and they drafted someone in the first round," Condon told Eisen. "At that point, our options are pretty limited. So our next best option is go back and prepare for the season, and then we’re back to where you already said – he goes in, plays great, he’s lights out, everyone loves him, and he either sits Carson for another year or he’s very valuable as a trade commodity.”

Condon's role as the public voice here was obviously designed to insulate Bradford in the eventuality he would have to return to Philadelphia and, although transparent, at least gives the veteran quarterback plausible deniability when he spins his side of the story, likely next Tuesday at the team's voluntary OTAs.

Call it the "business decision" defense but also remember Condon works for Bradford not the other way around.

“He’s a tough guy, and the players in the locker room understand what’s going on, as do the coaches,” Condon said. “That’s what he’s really worried about. It’s all settled on the field. He either plays really well or he doesn’t.

"And if he does great, as I expect him to, all’s forgotten. And so basically when you look at it, the Eagles made a business decision and it was good for them, Sam made a business decision that had the opportunity to be good for him, and didn’t work out. So we take our next best option.”

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973ESPN.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen