backups.Fisher isnt wrong: Injuries to Teddy Bridgewater, Tony Ro

SWANSEA, Wales -- Bob Bradley is a reluctant pioneer.He is filled with pride at becoming the Premier Leagues first American manager but aware his nationality brings preconceptions and myths about his credentials for the Swansea job.The American stuff I can cover in 30 seconds, the former U.S. national team coach said over-optimistically Friday at his Swansea presentation . Then I can push that out the door.As Bradley then gathered his thoughts, there was silence for several seconds in front of reporters in a modest hotel in the south Wales city. The 58-year-old knows Americans are still viewed by close-minded fans as novices in international soccer.With football in the United States, we have always understood we have to earn respect, Bradley said. When I was with the national team, every time we got a chance to play in Europe, the players and I would understand, `Today is one more day where we can show what the game is like in our country. So in some ways this helps. I am proud what I have been able to do.This stuff about pioneer. Im not an American manager. Im a football manager.Football, rather than soccer. Bradley made a wise but unnecessary distinction in a country that lays claim to have invented the game but gets prickly about the term soccer -- despite its origins.Im pretty sure that the English came up with this thing `soccer, Bradley said, correcting a misconception to his English inquisitor.I like football much better. ... American football should have a different name, but I dont think that will happen.The erudite Bradley sensed what his audience wanted to hear.I may slip up occasionally and call the pitch, the field -- sorry, he said. But Im not going to say soccer, dont worry.Hes certainly nothing like Ted Lasso, the flamboyant parody of a clueless American soccer coach created by NBC to promote its Premier League broadcasts , deploying U.S. sporting terminology alien to football.Thats what we lived with on the US team, Bradley said.I dont think its necessarily my job to take away your snobbery, Bradley added, engaging with reporters and expressing no sign of irritation.Bradley left the French second-tier club Le Havre on Monday to take the Swansea job. Lifting Swansea away from the relegation zone would help Bradley win over doubters who hoped former Wales and Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs would replace Francesco Guidolin.Having won only one of their opening seven league games, the Swans require an experienced manager. Bradley coached the U.S. from 2006 to 2011, including a trip to the 2010 World Cup. Giggs was manager for three games after being briefly elevated at Manchester United in 2014.I believe in my ability, Bradley said. People can write whatever they flippin want.Such as writing that Bradley only got the job because Steve Kaplan, a minority owner and executive vice chairman of the NBAs Memphis Grizzlies, and Jason Levien, a part-owner of D.C. United, took control of Swansea in July.I dont think they would have got where they are with making decisions with their heart, Bradley said.Reaching the Premier League was the long-term ambition for Bradley. A brother of former major league catcher Scott Bradley, Bob coached Chicago, New York and Chivas USA in Major League Soccer. He replaced Bruce Arena as national team coach in 2006, led the U.S. to a semifinal win over European champion Spain at the 2009 Confederations Cup and coached the U.S. to the second round of the 2010 World Cup.One year later, the U.S. Soccer Federation fired him and hired Jurgen Klinsmann, which caused acrimony.When he did commentary on the 2010 World Cup, he was already jockeying for the job, Bradley said.I would never do that, plain and simple, he explained further away from the cameras in Swansea. I told him I thought it was wrong. Ive no hard feelings.He coached Egypts national team from 2011-13, broadening his international experience.In order to prove myself, I have taken jobs nobody else would take, he said. No big managers when I went to Egypt would have.Not when the nation was going through violent street protests and bloody security crackdowns during the Arab Spring uprising. The American Pharaoh -- as he became known -- gained admiration there by sticking with the job even when the disorder spread to football, with a deadly stadium riot killing 74 people.People asked why I stayed, Bradley recalled. But are you kidding? If youre a leader, you cant be the first out the door.He left Egypt after losing to Ghana in a playoff for a 2014 World Cup berth, then went to the edge of the Arctic Circle and helped the Norwegian club Stabaek qualify for the Europa League.That earned him a move to France late last year, where Le Havre missed out on promotion to Ligue 1 last May on goal difference.He takes charge of a team only out of the Premier Leagues relegation zone on goal difference. Thirty-one league games remain, starting at Arsenal on Oct. 15.I understand there are going to be skeptics, Bradley said, but I dont care.---Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports Cheap White Sox Jerseys . 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The No. 1 draft pick out of Southern California couldnt get on the field even with a Heisman Trophy pedigree.Goff, the No. 1 pick in this years draft, will watch from the sidelines again when the Los Angeles Rams (2-1) visit Palmers Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and the veteran quarterback says thats not a bad spot for a young quarterback -- particularly with Goffs lack of experience in a pro-style offense.If youre not ready, its tough, Palmer said. If youre not ready and you get thrown in there, if you struggle, it can linger.Goff still hasnt taken a regular-season snap for the Rams, who are off to their best start in a decade -- admittedly not a high bar to clear for a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2004.While several rookie quarterbacks around the league have already begun their careers, Los Angeles is taking a gradual approach with its top choice while Case Keenum runs the offense. Coach Jeff Fisher repeatedly has said the Rams have no timetable on Goffs development.Im happy for young quarterbacks when they have success, but we have our own sense of timing here with him, Fisher said.Palmer was 23 years old with four seasons of college experience during his rookie NFL season, while Goff only turns 22 next month after three years at California. Palmer sees the benefit in buying developmental time for a teams quarterback of the future when the team is doing well with its quarterback of the present.The Rams are different, Palmer said. Thats a very good team. They dont need to throw a rookie in there and (make) him learn on the run and the team suffer. Theyve got a veteran that has their team at the top of the division.The Rams have back-to-back wins, but their offense is the NFLs least productive -- the same spot it held last season -- and only scored its fiirst touchdowns of the season last week at Tampa Bay.ddddddddddddKeenums passer rating is 66.1, the NFLs second-lowest among regular players after the New York Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw six interceptions last week.Meanwhile, Carson Wentz -- picked second last spring by Philadelphia -- is off to a roaring start as the Eagles starting quarterback. Dallas Dak Prescott, New Englands Jacoby Brissett and Clevelands Cody Kessler have all stepped on the field as rookies.None of it has budged the Rams on their plan to develop Goff with deliberation.The (rookie) quarterbacks are having success because of injuries, Fisher said. Had we not had the injuries that we did in the league, probably all four of those quarterbacks either would be inactive or backups.Fisher isnt wrong: Injuries to Teddy Bridgewater, Tony Romo, Jimmy Garoppolo, Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown -- and Tom Bradys suspension -- cleared a path for those rookie quarterbacks. Yet Wentz in particular has seized the opportunity provided to him, making Rams fans wonder when Goff will get the same chance.The Rams quickly realized Goff would need time to learn the intricacies of a pro-style offense after playing in Californias spread scheme. Keenum gets most of the practice time with the Rams first-string offense, leaving Goff to learn by observation and in film sessions.Palmer became the Bengals starter in 2004 and was one of the leagues top passers by 2005. Now a three-time Pro Bowler, the 36-year-old veteran is eager to see what the Cardinals division rivals do with their prize pick.You either throw the guy in there, or you let him sit back and rest, and only the coach can make that decision, Palmer said. The head coach makes the decision whats best for the team, and obviously he thinks its best for the team for Jared to sit and watch and learn.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '