Teddy Bridgewater sacrifices the now for the later
Teddy Bridgewater sacrificed an opportunity to go home and play for the Miami Dolphins so he could stay with the New Orleans Saints.
After all Teddy Bridgewater has been through in his NFL career, nobody would have blamed him from taking a more lucrative deal from the Miami Dolphins than he probably got from the New Orleans Saints.
But Bridgewater is playing the long game.
Teddy Bridgewater expected to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints despite a bigger deal on the table from Miami. I’m told Bridgewater values the locker room culture and prospect of one day becoming the Saints starting QB per source informed. #Saints
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 12, 2019
This is a pretty admirable move from Bridgewater, and could turn out to be an incredibly wise investment for both him and the Saints.
The Saints’ roster structure right now is much stronger than the Miami Dolphins, who not only have a new coaching staff but have a roster in a constant state of transition.
Despite that, it would have made all the sense in the world for Bridgewater to return to his hometown of Miami to play for the Dolphins, where he would have had the inside track at the starting job this season.
Why would a player in Bridgewater’s shoes pass on the Dolphins right now?
This is a guy who suffered a gruesome leg injury, spent two years fighting his way back, got signed by the New York Jets only to be traded in the preseason to sit behind Drew Brees.
Sitting for another season did not seem to be the way anyone really thought Bridgewater would go, but he’s exercising patience, and it should pay off for him in a huge way.
The Saints have pieces in place to be successful well into the future. Though Drew Brees is showing no signs of slowing down right now, his days in the NFL are numbered and Bridgewater is ready to be the heir apparent the Saints have been looking for.
He passed up on an opportunity not many guys in the NFL would pass up on. He was offered the chance to start in a tax-free state on a more lucrative deal with a chance to start right away, but he passed on it for the better situation.
I don’t know that Bridgewater is going to start something in the NFL, but more players should take note of what he just did. Too many players leave ideal or great situations to make the most money they possibly can. There’s got to be a way to find a balance between the two.
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If two sides can make something work like Bridgewater and the Saints have, the success and financial reward will eventually come.