Teddy Bridgewater Gets in Trouble for Being Generous
Social media is often known as a place where stupidity reigns. Every so often, though, the correct opinion shines through.
Teddy Bridgewater has shifted from being an NFL quarterback to being a high school coach. Makes sense given his leadership, charm, and work ethic. Any student athlete would be fortunate to have Coach Bridgewater leading his/her team. What’s odd is simply that the former Viking appears to have gotten in trouble for being generous with his players.
Teddy Bridgewater in Some Trouble
Consider the update that gets passed along by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
The details of the infraction: “Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended from Miami Northwestern for providing ‘impermissible benefits’ to his players — which included Uber rides, physical therapy, pregame meals, recovery help, field paint, and more.”
And then Meirov’s assessment of the situation: “If that’s the case, Teddy Bridgewater should be celebrated, not suspended. Just my two cents.”
Given how peculiar the situation is, folks on social media offered a strong response. Most seem to have come to a sensible conclusion: Mr. Bridgewater didn’t do anything wrong.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III offered his take: “He got suspended for taking care of his players when they were in need, teaching them how to take care of their bodies and giving them the necessities to help them chase their dreams for a brighter future. Not cheating. Not stealing. Just caring. He gave them the tools to chase a better future and is getting punished for it.”
League insider Jordan Schultz doesn’t appear particularly impressed: “So let me get this straight: Teddy Bridgewater — a volunteer not even a school employee — is being suspended for helping kids and doing good in his community?” (bold and italics in the original quote).
And the Louis Riddick opinion: “This Teddy Bridgewater suspension for doing RIGHT by his football players and propping up the program with his own money is simply embarrassing […] When I read everything he was providing for these young men, I’m thinking ‘Is he going to get some kind of reward? Recognition ?’ Come on man…this is just dumb.”
Look around online and surely one will find more opinions supporting Bridgewater.
Truth be told, folks, I don’t know how to make sense of the problem. Is the argument that Bridgewater is giving his players an unfair advantage by investing in them? To my mind, he’s being a great coach who is helping the young players he has been tasked with leading.
Back in 2014, the Vikings scooped up Bridgewater with the No. 32 selection. He was supposed to be the long-term answer at quarterback for Mike Zimmer’s team but an offseason injury in 2016 changed his career.
He would go on to become a journeyman, playing for the Saints, Jets, Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins, and Lions. By the time he traded in his cleats for a whistle, Teddy Bridgewater had a 66.4% completion rate to stand alongside 15,120 passing yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
The quarterback’s competitiveness, toughness, work ethic, and leadership made him an ideal QB2. No surprise, then, that he appears to be a very good coach.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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