<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>UL's Teddy Bridgewater told <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@ESPN</a> he's "undecided" whether to leave early for NFL & "not leaning either way"</p>— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/412743644777431040">December 17, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>UL's Teddy Bridgewater said whatever teams have top picks in 2014 NFL Draft "will not impact" his decision</p>— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/statuses/412753403400318976">December 17, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I just don't see the point in him staying. He's graduating on Thursday. He's the odds on favorite to go #1. He's got his degree and he can't really improve his draft stock. What else is there left for him to do at Louisville? They were a dark horse candidate to make it to the National Championship this year if they hadn't lost to UCF. Would he go back trying to get there again? EDIT http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/teddy-bridgewater-undecided/story?id=21241689
haha, i doubt it's merely coincidental that Teddy is deciding to declare or not after the draft order has been determined: If HOU picks first, I fully expect Teddy to declare. If STL ends up with 1.1, I think bridgewater might stay in school because he might not want to deal with the stress of someone mortgaging their future to trade up & draft him ala rg3
Teddy seems to have a good head on his shoulders. He stands to make a lot more money by coming out this year and being a number one pick versus potentially coming out next year and being the third quarterback taken. As the third quarterback, who knows where he'd get drafted. If the decision is about playing against better competition with his friends versus bettering his family and impacting his environment, I say have your cake and eat it, too, Teddy - in the NFL. Absolute no brainer. Basically, he's waiting to see if the right team gets the number one pick. What team would be more right than the Texans? Answer: there's not one. In other words, Teddy Bridgewater wants to be the Houston Texans' next franchise quarterback. He is almost going so far as to asking the team to lose the final two games for him. I like your style.
The only way I can see him going back is if scouts are now telling him he wont be the number 1 or number 2 pick... he is probably being told he should stay. Its not like he is staying to try and win a national title.
That would be stupid. You have no control over who drafts you. While he might be the favorite for the number 1 pick right now, he's hardly a lock. Houston could quite conceivably take Clowney or Barr or trade down. He has no control over that. None. So it would be dumb of him make his decision based on who he "thinks" will draft him. Besides, he'd have to deal with all the same stuff next year too. And if you think he wouldn't be the 1st (or even 2nd) QB taken next year, then he'd have even less of an idea of where he'd end up.
actually, bridgewater has somewhat control over who drafts him.. in the 2014 draft. what i mean is... if the texans end up with the 1st overall pick on sunday 12/29, and rick smith gives him the *wink wink*, bridgewater will probably declare if he feels houston is a good place for him. otherwise... he can say F it, i'm going back to school, and see how the chips fall in 2015..
I honestly haven't given a whole lot of thought towards the draft. I just hope it isn't "Teddy Bridgewater and Bust."
Rick Smith isn't going to give anybody the *wink wink* 5 months before the draft and 3 months before the combine.
Why not? What could happen during the combine (outside of injury) that could change Rick's mind? I'm pretty sure Rick is already knee deep in draft analysis.
He probably is, but you don't just ignore five months of preparation for a decision like this. You have to evaluate every possible candidate on every aspect of their game. At the very least, Smith would give the decision his due diligence just because a bad decision could cost him his job. Remember, there were even naysayers saying that the Colts could and might consider RG3 after the combine. This was months after Luck had become the anointed one.
Talking about making a guy the #1 overall pick and anointing him the face of your franchise, the personality & character checks are crucial. For them, you need to talk with him, his teammates, coaches, professors, the guy who lives down the hall, and the janitor in his building. A large percentage of the people you want to talk with won't be sufficiently available during the season. Failing to do the background check and judging only on raw talent is how you end up with Jamarcus Russell. Wasting a pick on Sam Montgomery is devastating enough when it is a sandwich pick between the 3rd and 4th. Taking Sam Montgomery 1st overall would hobble your franchise for years.
Teddy Bridgewater is coming from the Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley school of screwing up your draft position and costing yourself millions because you went back for your Senior year.
I agree that there is still work to be done. In Teddy's case, there are no character red flags or personality flaws. There is not a bad hair on his head.
I wonder if Casserley gave the *wink wink* to Reggie Bush. Everybody knew he was going to be the #1 pick.
sounds like you pulled an andy pettitte & misremembered the 2006 draft. in fact, the texans & mario agreed to a contract the night before the draft.
Yeah, the NIGHT BEFORE. Not 5 months before. 5 months before the draft it was going to be Reggie Bush. Hell, 2 days before the draft it was still thought to be Reggie Bush. That's my point. The way things look in December aren't always the way they end up in May.
