Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry Takes High Road on Deebo Samuel 'Trash' Comment

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry said he wished San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel would have used a better word to describe his play but is used to criticism.

PHILADELPHIA – James Bradberry took the high road when asked about San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel calling him “trash.”

Samuel took the low road after the Philadelphia Eagles thrashed the Niners in last season’s NFC Championship Game, saying Bradberry was a “trash” player, said they would have won by double digits if quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t get hurt on a Haason Reddick hit, said San Fran was hands down the better team and guaranteed a win against the Eagles on Sunday.

Samuel didn’t back down from those remarks when asked about them again earlier in the week, with the 49ers scheduled to visit Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (4:25 p.m./FOX).

Bradberry isn’t the type to give other teams bulletin board material, but he is the type to hold himself accountable for whatever happens on a field, and certainly would not whine like Samuel and several of his teammates after last year’s beatdown.

“It’s never been part of, I would say my personality or my game, saying things in the media to get another team riled up or just express all my thoughts,” he said during Wednesday’s open locker room session. “I try to keep everything generic and just go out there and handle my business when it comes down to playing the game.”

Deebo Samuel (left) and James Bradberry / USA TODAY

That said, Bradberry tackled the “trash” comment.

“You can’t ignore it,” he said. “Of course, I don’t necessarily like what he said. Wish he would’ve used a better word to describe my play, but it is what it is. At the end of the day, all I can control is my work ethic and what do out there.”

Bradberry, who intercepted his first pass of the season in last Sunday’s overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, and now has 19 in his career, said he has received criticism before and, as he always does, rises above it.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 8; I’m 30 now,” he said. “I’ve been roughly playing football most of my life. I’ve had people say negative things about me in the past, when I was coming out of high school, they said I wasn’t good when I was in college, I was focused on playing corner because I was a safety originally.

“Then coming into the league, they said I couldn’t do certain things, but I got drafted in the second round. This is my eighth year in the league, so really negative comments don’t bother me like that. I try not to let it get to me. I just try to control my work ethic and lining up on Sunday and let whatever cards I have I’m going to play them and let the product speak for itself.”

As for Samuel saying that the 49ers would have won by double digits had Purdy not suffered an elbow injury and been knocked out of the NFC title game only to return in a limited capacity because their backup, Josh Johnson, got hurt, too, Bradberry said the first rule for any team is to protect the quarterback.

The 49ers failed to do that, with not only one but the backup as well.

“I think most coaches and most players know that in order to be successful in this league, you need a quarterback,” he said, “and they didn’t protect their quarterback last year and he got hurt. It’s unfortunate.”

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