Teddy Bridgewater – October 5, 2022
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Wednesday, October 5, 2022
QB Teddy Bridgewater
(Opening Statement) – “It was a great start to the week. It was good to get back out there and move around with the guys coming off a long weekend. I’m excited about our opportunity to go out and compete this weekend. We’re looking forward to the matchup against Jets.”
(You’ve done it as a starter. You’ve done it as a backup coming in for a starter. How much does that past experience give you confidence?) – “Yeah, it gives you a ton of confidence. Just having been through this before, as far as coming in, or entering the game late or all the types of scenarios I’ve been through in my career. It’s like experience is life’s best philosopher. So I’ve had some experience. I’m just looking forward to this opportunity that the guys and this team, we get moving forward this weekend.”
(Obviously you’ve had an entire week of first-team practice reps. Can you kind of describe a way that that’s benefited you already so far, whether that’s working with the wide receivers and the offensive line or something like that?) – “It has its benefits. Just being in there repping the plays in live action, full speed. So at the same time, each day,, you have to take this mental approach, like never before. It’s so easy to talk about it. But when you actually live in it, it’s totally different.”
(To that point, Head Coach Mike McDaniel kind of talked about the human element of preparing. Obviously, you get the practice steps, but then you kind of have the pressures of knowing that you’re starting as opposed to being the backup. Obviously, you’re a local guy, making your first start for your hometown team. How you kind of manage all that and the emotion that comes down?) – “I just take it one day at a time. Because at the end of the day, I look at all this as a blessing. Me standing here before you guys, me getting an opportunity to still play this game – there have been so many instances in my career where I probably could have never played again. So every day that I get to step into this facility, be around the guys, this coaching staff, the support staff, the crew in the cafeteria, it’s all just something that I soak in because it’s a blessing.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel talked about how fortunate this organization is to have you as their backup. Have you felt that support this week? Just kind of with your teammates and the coaching staff and the people in the building?) – “Yeah, I definitely felt it. And I felt even when I wasn’t starting. There’s just so many genuine vibes around here and the energy is contagious. It goes a long way. It starts from the top and it trickles all the way down to the locker room to the support staff, even the cleaning crew. Their energy, everything is top notch.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned a sense of relief that you’re here. Filling in as a starter, what kinds of things can a backup quarterback do to of ease the lives of his teammates?) – “Honestly, just be yourself. I can’t be Tua (Tagovailoa). I had to learn a lesson when I was in New Orleans. I couldn’t be Drew Brees. So it’s like, as long as I continue to be myself, the guys realize this guy isn’t faking. He’s not trying to be something he’s not. It’s like it’s a sense of relief. Like okay, we know we’re getting the real version of him. He’s not trying to be something he’s not. That’s just my approach every day.”
(You referenced your time with the Saints in 2019. What kind of similarities do you see between that situation and now?) – “It’s just an opportunity to prepare a full week. Just to be around the guys, be in the huddle with the guys, letting them feel my energy. I feel their energy and I’m just ready to go play honestly.”
(What’s something that’s different or unique about the way this offense operates or this team that maybe you haven’t experienced before?) – “There are so many weapons on this team. I honestly think or believe that this is the most firepower that I’ve ever been around. Just the combination of talent, the guys’ skillsets, their mental capacity of being able to retain information and go out there and execute at a top-notch level, it wows me every day.”
(Throughout your career, you’ve managed to stay in touch with your Miami roots and especially Northwestern High School. What has that kind of meant to you throughout your career and now getting to start for your hometown team?) – “It’s a huge blessing to be able to just suit up in my hometown. I played little league football five minutes down the road at Bunche Park. So if I leave work tomorrow and go to the park, all of the little kids will come running up to me excited. If I go to the Northwestern game on Friday night, everybody will be excited. It’s such a relief, honestly, knowing that the love is genuine no matter where I go. I really appreciate that from my community and my people. I know they’re excited that I get this opportunity. I’m looking forward to it.”
(Growing up in Miami, was the Dolphins-Jets a rivalry to you?) – “It did some of the years that I really paid attention to it. I do understand the history of this rivalry just being a football fan. We have an opportunity to get to 3-0 in the division. That would be huge for us. That’s one thing that we emphasize right now. We know that we’re playing against a very good Jets team. It’s a young team with some young talent but those guys are playing some good football. We know that they’re going to give us their best.”
(How many tickets are you getting for this weekend?) – “We play on the road. (laughter)”
(Does this game mean anything more to you considering your history with the Jets organization?) – “Honestly, every game is the same because I just respect the game. I respect all of my opponents and know that each week you’re going to get each team’s best. The year I spent OTAs and training camp with the Jets. I look at it as they helped save my career. When I signed with the Jets, it really was like on a tryout basis almost with Todd Bowles, the head coach, and ‘J Mel’ (John Mellody) the trainer, he helped me get back to my old self health-wise. Todd Bowles, his charisma and his energy helped me just continue to get that confidence back for myself. Then when they traded me, it was like everything happens for a reason. I understand the nature of the business. I don’t take anything personally.”
(A couple of weeks ago when we were talking, you were talking about potentially going into coaching when you were done playing. Then a couple of days later, we saw you drawing up some plays on the sideline at the Northwestern High School game. What was that moment kind of like for you and did the play end up working that night?) – “(laughter) It’s fun, man. It’s a great moment for me. Yeah, I get to be on the sideline at my high school games and draw plays and things like that. Some plays work and some plays don’t. But it’s really something that I always talked about when I was playing for different teams out of town. Just allowing for people to see me in the flesh. There are so many kids in the Bunche Park area, the Liberty City area, who want to be Teddy Bridgewater and look up to Teddy Bridgewater, but they can only see me on the television. So when they can see me in the flesh on the sideline, high school kids can touch me and interact and realize that I’m human just like them. That’s food for my soul.”
(It’s a big game for Northwestern High School this week against Miami Central.) – “Yeah, definitely a big game. We always got a chance. I like us every week.”
(How has this mini-bye been, catching your breath after that Thursday night game and having 10 days between games?) – “It was great. It’s always great to have a moment to reset and for it to come that early in the season, I think it was great for everyone because we’ve been grinding since training camp. So you get that nice weekend off to get away from ball, spend time with the family. I went to Lion Country Safari with my son and had a rhinoceros and all of those animals walking across the truck. It’s just great to reset and then when you come back, you remember your purpose. When you’re away, you’re with family and that’s your why. Then when you come back, for me especially, you remember your purpose.”
