It’s a sobering thought and a legitimately sad one, but Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s young career might be over before it ever really got started.
It’s the only logical take-away from Monday’s news that the Vikings would not use Bridgewater’s fifth-year contract option, available to them because they took the QB in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Vikings will not exercise 5th-year option on Teddy Bridgewater: https://t.co/z0QZottqgd (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/TXhm6IpDkI
— NFL (@NFL) May 1, 2017
Bridgewater suffered a catastrophic knee injury last offseason, a horror-movie knee dislocation that tore his knee to pieces and was so rough to look at some players at the practice actually got physically ill. It was a devastating loss and a franchise killing one at that. Bridgewater, in his second season, had led the Vikings to an 11-5 record and completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was 17-11 as a starter and was solidifying himself as an NFL passer and the face of Minnesota’s fanchise.
Then the freak injury happened. Not even on a contact play. Just bad luck.
The Vikings haven’t officially given up on Bridgewater returning and say all the right things. Last week general manager Rick Speilman told the media, “Teddy, I can tell you, our first week of offseason has been incredible. He’s been in here working as hard as anyone, fighting his way back. I wouldn’t put it past that kid how quickly he can come back. But it’s still unknown.”
Things are pointing to Teddy Bridgewater's @NFL career being over. #Vikings
— Man Cave Sports (@ManCaveSports12) May 2, 2017
It’s that unknown that kept the Vikings from using the fifth-year option, one that would have paid Bridgewater more than $12 million in guaranteed money. They hope he can play again. They’re rooting for him, but unless the 2017 season for the Vikings is a complete disaster, he’ll probably never wear their uniform in a meaningful game, no matter how healthy he is.
Last season the Vikings traded a first round pick in last Thursday night’s NFL draft for Sam Bradford. Bradford, too, is in the final year of his current contract. He had a solid season for Minnesota in 2016, leading the NFL in completion percentage (71.6) and throwing for a career-high 3,877 yards, 20 touchdowns and five picks. The problem was his win-loss record hasn’t improved, going 7-8. Bradford is 32-45-1 as a starter in the NFL. Plenty of that can be blamed on some of the shittiest head coaches in the history of the game (Jeff Fisher, Chip Kelly, Steve Spagnulo) and, frankly, the jury is still out on Mike Zimmer after last season.
Bradford is playing for a new contract and if he plays well enough to get a long-term deal, obviously Bridgewater is gone. The only way Teddy gets back on the field is if Bradford gets hurt himself, stinks it up, or the Vikings as a team are terrible. It’s legitimately a no-win scenario. The only way Bridgewater plays for Minnesota again is if everything else goes completely off the rails.
Declined 2018 fifth-year options: Sammy Watkins, Kyle Fuller, Calvin Pryor, Marcus Smith, Teddy Bridgewater and likely Greg Robinson.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2017
As an NFL writer and fan of the sport, there’s a good possibility still on the table. Bridgewater doesn’t play for the Vikings again in this scenario, but does heal up and is able to play quarterback in the the league again. There are 32 NFL teams and there are not 32 NFL-level starting quarterbacks. By my accounting there are 24 guys that can make that claim, not counting rookies and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who gets a do-over under Sean McVay. The best thing for the NFL is for Bridgewater to recover fully and Bradford perform well. Let’s hope it happens.
Lions pick up Eric Ebron’s fifth-year option
Tuesday the Detroit Lions announced they had picked up tight end Eric Ebron’s fifth-year options to retain his rights through 2018. The move will pay Ebron $8.25 million in the final year of his current contract.
The #Lions announced that they exercised the fifth-year option on the contract of TE Eric Ebron. Under contract through 2018.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 2, 2017
Last year was Ebron’s most productive as a pro, catching 61 passes for 711 yards and a touchdown.
With Calvin Johnson retiring last season, Ebron became more of a focus in the team’s regular offense and averaged 9.9 yards per catch.
Bears hurt Mike Glennon’s feelings
For a guy that hasn’t made a meaningful NFL start in three seasons, Mike Glennon sure is made of glass. The new Chicago Bears quarterback was at a team draft party when the team traded up to the No. 2 pick to draft North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Glennon “felt as though he’d been cheated on.”
https://twitter.com/KW_Doll/status/857752284935139331
A guy that just signed an $18.5 million contract felt cheated on. OK.
This isn’t the first time Glennon has watched his replacement get drafted so he should at least be used to it by now. He started 18 games over two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that was enough to convince the Bucs they should go with Jameis Winston as an upgrade. It’s worked out pretty well.
I have no issue at all with the Bears taking Trubisky. The problem with the pick is they probably didn’t need to trade up to do it. It made them look ridiculous on draft day. The Bears needed to get a QB in this draft. No one, except Mike Glennon apparently, thinks that Glennon has a chance to become a legitimate franchise quarterback.
For his part, Bears head coach John Fox is talking up the competition instead of Glennon’s ridiculously damaged ego.
“You allow them that,” Fox said. “That’s something that you do, and you do talk that through. But they get over it. And then they start competing. It’s Mike’s team. He’s the starter. He feels really good about that.”
Other NFL news
The Pittsburgh Steelers cut back up quarterback Zach Mettenberger Monday. Mettenberger never saw the field for the Steelers in 2016. In his two previous years with the Tennessee Titans, Mettenberger started 10 games and lost all 10, completing 60.3 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The Buffalo Bills signed free agent cornerback Shareece Wright. Wright spent the last two seasons with the Ravens. He started nine games last season and recorded nine passes defended and one fumble recovery.
The San Francisco 49ers signed guard Brandon Fusco. Fusco previously played for the Vikings.
The Green Bay Packers cut running backs Christine Michael and Don Jackson Monday. Michael played for both the Packers and Seahawks last season, carrying the ball 148 times for 583 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught 22 passes for 107 yards and a score. Jackson never recorded a state in 2016.
The Carolina Panthers cut safety Tre Boston. Boston started 10 games in 2016 and recorded seven passes defended, two interceptions and two sacks.
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