From Bedlam to beyond

Zac Robinson and Sam Bradford suited up on the same football field on Thursday night for the first time since their classic 2008 shootout at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Only this time, there was no Big 12 South title in the balance and the two former Oklahoma stars seemed far from equals.  

Ironically, the first and last quarterbacks selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, OU's 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, Bradford, and OSU's all-time passing leader, Robinson, both traveled to Foxborough, Mass., for a preseason game with their respective NFL teams.

The St. Louis Rams' first-round draft pick, Bradford, impressed throwing for 189 yards and two first-half touchdowns before sitting for the final 30 minutes.

Operating from the opposite end of the spectrum, the New England Patriots' seventh-round draft pick, Robinson, never took the field as Tom Brady and the rest of the first unit played well into the second half.

It was another example of the two former rivals' polar opposite paths to the NFL.

Bradford signed a $78 million dollar contract with the Rams and stepped into the spotlight and scrutiny that comes with being a franchise quarterback.

Robinson found himself having to wait until the wee hours of the final day of the draft to finally hear his name called by the New England Patriots.

Both men stepped into unique situations. Bradford joined the long list of quarterbacks selected first overall in the NFL draft and is being immediately touted as the savior of a franchise.

This path is paved with success stories like Peyton Manning, John Elway and Troy Aikman, but is also laden with NFL failures like Tim Couch, David Carr, and JaMarcus Russell.

Bradford finds himself being immediately thrust into NFL action behind a shaky offensive line and against the greatest of expectations.

Robinson was drafted, not to be the savior of a franchise, but to learn behind one — Tom Brady.

Brady was once in Robinson's position — a highly successful college quarterback who saw himself slip to the sixth round on NFL draft day.

Though Robinson expressed frustration at being drafted so late, he was quick to see the positives in getting an opportunity to play behind Brady, who three Superbowls later has a lot of teams wishing they could rethink their draft picks.

"At the time, you're watching and expecting to go earlier," Robinson told the Oklahoman in April, "You see a few guys go ahead of you and you get a little bit frustrated but in the end, I can't be disappointed at all. I'm going to the best organization in football with a great, great opportunity."

Robinson found more good news when New England Patriots' coach, Bill Belichick, told reporters shortly after drafting Robinson that he was being brought in to play quarterback.

This effectively ended speculation that upon entering the NFL, Robinson may have to follow the pattern of fellow former star Big 12 quarterback, Nebraska's 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, and attempt to convert to the wide receiver position.

In the end, you have two men, both immortalized in the folk lore of Oklahoma football. One is being immediately thrown to the NFL wolves, while the other stands by patiently waiting for his opportunity. Only time will tell which path was the one best taken.