Anthony Bradford is certainly enjoying life as a Seattle Seahawks rookie

By Ron Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com

DETROIT – Anthony Bradford had a good day on Sunday.

And for good reason. Actually, there were several reasons for a smile to appear on his face.

Bradford, a rookie offensive lineman for the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks, and his teammates strolled into Ford Field and ruined the home opener for the Detroit Lions, 37-31 in overtime. The anxious Lions’ followers were braced for a big day, but the Seahawks spoiled the opening day party in downtown Detroit.

“I felt good to be back and see a couple people I know from back in the city (of Muskegon),” said Bradford, a former Muskegon Big Red and LSU Tiger. “I had a lot of family come out so it’s been a good time.”

Bradford, 6-4, 332 pounds, was on the field for seven plays for the Seahawks – four extra points, two missed field goals and one made field goal. Bradford was listed as second string on the Seahawks’ depth chart, playing behind veteran Phil Haynes. On Sunday, Haynes played every offensive down at right guard.

Bradford is fine with that for the time being. He’s loving life in the NFL and he’s learning the finer points of being an offensive guard in the trenches.

“I can’t complain at all,” he said. “It’s been great. It’s everything that I expected. I’m really just trying to work and it’s been great so far. I have no complaints … I’m just trying to keep pushing.”

But, one of the other high points of his day on Sunday was seeing his mother, Latoya Bradford, and his sister, Marian Bradford, who were among a rather large contingent of Muskegon folks who trekked across the state to watch the former Muskegon Big Red in action.

“Just my mom hit me up for a ticket,” said Bradford, laughingly. “But a lot of people from Muskegon were here, for sure.”

“This is amazing,” Latoya said of watching her son play in a regular season game in the NFL. Her next visit is expected to be a trip to Cincinnati when the Seahawks play the Bengals on Oct. 15. “The stadium was rocking and it was so sad that they lost.”
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For Marian, it was a satisfying day watching her brother once again have success on the turf at Ford Field.

“It’s a full circle because the last time we were here, he won a championship for Muskegon so for him to come back here for the Seahawks is so weird, but I’m so proud,” said Marian Bradford, whose seats were among a large group of Lions’ fans. “We were surrounded by Detroit fans so we almost got jumped, but it was good. We held it down.

“I had anxiety when we went into overtime,” she said. “But we made it and I am so happy.”

Oh, and there was one more thing that made Bradford quite pleased. He’s again wearing his familiar No. 75 jersey. The same number he wore for the Big Reds and the LSU Tigers.

“I came and I was No. 70 and luckily 75 opened up,” he said. “And I had to go with it. I know a lot of people notice me from that number so being able to get that number back felt good.”

Bradford and his teammates headed back to Seattle following Sunday’s game to prepare for their next matchup, a home game against the Carolina Panthers.

Seattle Seahawks rookie lineman Anthony Bradford, was happy to see his family on Sunday after the game in Detroit. On the left is Bradford’s mother, Latoya Bradford. On the right is his older sister, Marian Bradford. Photo/Eric Sturr