Sam Bradford Returns to Oklahoma to <strike>Avoid the Lions</strike> Chase a National Title

It was rumored before the BCS championship game that Sam Bradford would bolt for the NFL, provided he didn't get injured. The rumor, however unsubstantiated, made a lot of sense considering Bradford's success this season and the likelihood that he would be a top-10 pick, to say the least.

But contrary to those reports and the millions of dollars that were waiting for Bradford, he has decided to stay at Oklahoma and sling rocks for at least one more year under big-game coach Bob Stoops.

"I've dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little, and my three years here have been probably three of the best years of my life, and I really feel that there's no need to cut this experience short," Bradford said Wednesday at a news conference.

"Obviously its frustrating to end with a loss and I want to come back and finish my career the right way: on a win," Bradford said. "I would say it had a little bit of an influence on my decision, but I really tried to keep that out of my mind because that could have limited myself to making the best decision for me."

What Bradford didn't say: "Um, guys, you do know the Detroit Lions are going to take me with the top pick right? Surely you don't think I'm suicidal."

And quasi-funny jokes aside, if I'm Bradford, the Lions sitting at the top spot has a lot to do with my decision. Yes, he would get paid either way, but in Detroit there's a lot less chance for him to see his 25th birthday, regardless of how amazing it would be to throw deep to Calvin Johnson.

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A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

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Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

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Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

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