Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry Tries Not to Think About Super Bowl Penalty

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry is moving past the pivotal penalty he had late in the Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

PHILADELPHIA – Cornerbacks are supposed to have short memories – give up a play and it’s on to the next; don’t let the mistake fester.

It would take something more along the lines of amnesia for James Bradberry to forget the holding call he made that helped determine the outcome of Super Bowl LVII just nine months ago. 

His penalty, which came with 1:48 to play and on a third-down, incomplete throw, allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to drain the clock and kick a game-winning field goal with eight seconds to beat beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35.

That game – that confounded penalty – is back in the news this week as the two teams prepare for a rematch Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Head coach Nick Sirianni said the Super Bowl tape has been watched because it’s important in preparation.

Bradberry has seen it. He hasn’t ducked his unfortunate penalty, just like he didn’t duck reporters’ questions in the aftermath of the loss.

“I had seen highlights online,” said Bradberry. “I just have to put it in the back of my mind every time I see it. Of course, you see it, you have feelings when you see it, but I try not to think about it too much.”

James Bradberry closes in on a tackle during Super Bowl LVII / USA Today

He’s trying to put it past him. Maybe a win on Monday night will erase it. Probably not.

“You know, we’re still in the regular season,” he said. “You want to win every regular season game, so I'm approaching it like another regular season game. And if we face them again, down the road, you know, circumstances might be different, but right now, it's just a regular season game.”

During that standup routine in the postgame, Super Bowl locker room, Bradberry said, yes, he held. 

He didn’t say that there were other holds that took place on both sides that didn’t get called. He flat-out admitted he was guilty.

“A lot of people said it wasn't a (hold) and I shouldn't have said it, but it was a (hold) and they called it,” said Bradberry. “That’s the call they made. If they wouldn’t have made it, I wouldn’t have said anything about it.”

Bradberry laughed when he said that, so, at last, he can do that, which is perhaps another step toward amnesia, though, again, probably not.

Asked how he has been able to put it behind, if at all, he said: “I just try not to do it again. That’s pretty much it.”

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