Jim Schwartz on Nigel Bradham: ‘You're going to be labeled as a dumbass'

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After Nigel Bradham was arrested for bringing a gun to Miami International Airport on Sunday, police agreed that it was a mistake and that there was no criminal intent.

But it was criminally stupid.

His defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who also coached Bradham in Buffalo and helped bring him to Philadelphia, was disappointed the linebacker was arrested for the second time in just over two months and for something so senseless.

“You do dumbass things, pretty soon, you’re going to be labeled as a dumbass,” Schwartz said on Thursday morning.

“And he’s got a lot of ground to make up. Because it’s not just him, it’s the rest of us also. It’s everybody that wears that helmet, all the people in the organization. He represents not just himself, he represents everybody and he’s got some ground to make up that way. He’s got to earn some trust back.”

Bradham on Wednesday explained that his bringing a gun to the airport was an “unintended mistake.” The loaded gun — but not cocked, Bradham said — was in a side zipper compartment of his backpack and he forgot it was there (see story).

The TSA agent at the airport found it and Bradham was arrested before eventually being released on $500 bond. He was back at practice the next day and is expected to play this Sunday in Detroit.

“First, I mean, the worst thing I’ve ever forgotten at the airport has been a razor or a belt or something like that,” Schwartz said. “I’m the guy in line that if that guy in line five people ahead has a water in their luggage, I’m throwing my hands up like, ‘seriously, have you ever traveled? Do you not know that you can’t take water in?’ This takes it to a different level.”

After his first arrest in July, Bradham was disappointed that his first impression in Philadelphia was a bad one. After his second arrest in 10 weeks, Bradham was disappointed that his first and second impressions were bad ones. He was also disappointed that while the team is 3-0 and riding high, he’s a negative blemish.

On the field, though, Bradham has been playing very well. He’s played 96 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and has 10 tackles, one interception and a pass defensed in three games.

“And I think the disappointing thing for me is that it takes away from the Nigel that we see every day,” Schwartz said. “A good teammate, a hard worker, a trustworthy player on the field. But facts are facts.”

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