Malcolm Jenkins Understands 'Where Sam Bradford Is Coming From'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Malcolm Jenkins has embraced the role as the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles --- on and off the field.
The 28-year-old veteran safety, who signed a long-term extension reportedly worth $35 million ($21 million guaranteed) this past February, publicly defended his teammate Sam Bradford.
Bradford, of course, has been taking major heat from the fan base and media after requesting a trade following the team's decision to move up in the draft for quarterback Carson Wentz.
"Oh yeah, I mean from a fans standpoint [I understand]," Jenkins told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Monday. "And I think he understands he's got some work to do as far as buying back the hearts of some of the fans. But from a teammate and business perspective, I can understand it as well. I can see where he's coming from. I think I told the media last week, nobody questions it when players get traded or get cut before their contracts or up.
Listen: Malcolm Jenkins on the 94WIP Morning Show
"So, I really don't see this any different. It's a business and guys have to do what's in their best interest. I know as a teammate I'm happy that he's back in the building and we can kind of move forward from it, but I think from a fan base standpoint he definitely has a lot of hearts to win back."
As for Wentz, Jenkins admitted while it's obviously very early, he can see the rookie's confidence on the field.
"We had three practices with him last week, it's really hard to gauge where he's at," Jenkins said of Wentz. "I know he's a confident thrower. He's kind of a gunslinger, he'll try to stretch the field. He's not taking many check downs right now. But he's working with the third group so he's got the third wide receivers and the separation is not really there. So he doesn't have the chance to really air things out. We're just trying to watch and see where his decision making develops over the next couple of weeks."
