Himmelsbach | Teddy's just what the NFL needs
The day before the NFL draft, former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater joined other top prospects at a youth clinic in lower Manhattan. They were there to throw footballs to children and reinforce the importance of staying fit.
Bridgewater seemed to be having more fun than the other prospects, laughing and smiling and even teaching touchdown dances. I remember overhearing an NFL staffer gushing about how he will be perfect for the league. Afterward, he was selected to address the group with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who took the microphone first.
"We're fortunate to have these guys coming into the NFL," Goodell said, Bridgewater standing a few feet away. "They're gonna make a big difference."
Looking back at that moment six months later, it seems almost eerie. Goodell is under fire as the league deals with its domestic violence problem; some are even calling for his resignation. And one of the troubling cases involves Bridgewater's Minnesota Vikings teammate, running back Adrian Peterson, who has been indicted for reckless or negligent injury to a child. He has acknowledged striking his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.
On Sunday afternoon, with Peterson still inactive as his case unfolds, Bridgewater made his NFL debut. He replaced injured starting quarterback Matt Cassel in the second quarter of the 20-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints, completing 12 of 20 passes for 150 yards and adding six carries for 27 yards.
"I wasn't nervous," Bridgewater said, "because this is where I always wanted to be."
Cassel broke bones in his foot and will be sidelined indefinitely. So this feels like the dawn of the Bridgewater era — not just as the quarterback, but as the face of this franchise in turmoil. Peterson is one of the best running backs of all-time, but there is a very real possibility he won't play another game for the Vikings this season, or ever again.
Maybe the city now turns its lonely eyes to Teddy.
And if you're listening, Minnesota, Teddy Bridgewater is exactly what your team and your city need right now. He is the perfect antidote to an image problem. He will make a difference with his arm and his ability to disarm. When he talks about how fortunate he is to be there, he will truly mean it. He'll do things like teach touchdown dances to children at community events.
In his postgame press conference, before fielding a question or making a statement about how it felt to fulfill a childhood dream, Bridgewater brought up Cassel. He said how he has been a mentor, how he is praying for his recovery.
If Teddy hasn't won you over yet, he will. Just give it time. It didn't take him long here in Louisville.
No, Bridgewater wasn't perfect in his debut, and he probably won't be perfect as this season progresses. But guess what? The Vikings weren't going to win a Super Bowl with Peterson and Cassel this season, either. Now, Minnesota would do well to move on from the past, to move on from Peterson, by focusing on this new phase, this clean slate.
When the Vikings face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Bridgewater will get his first NFL start. With a full week of preparation, the game should provide a better gauge of his progression. But even if he doesn't instantly collect wins, his presence will be significant. Now, fans should have no reservations about supporting the new face of the franchise, the new hope.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.