I would be lying if I said I did not love the National Football League, even though I follow it for the former Tar Heels and because of Fantasy Football. On the other hand, I would not be telling the truth if I didn’t say that I believe that the NFL is the classic case of “too much of anything, good or bad, is always bad”. The latest example of this is the “Pro Day” for Terry Bridgewater (6’2″/214 lbs), the Louisville quarterback about to go make a boat load of money in the Pro’s.
After three seasons of throwing passes on the college gridiron, Bridgewater went to the NFL Compound, but did not throw there, and then yesterday had his Pro Day at his college in front personnel of 29 out of 32 NFL franchises. From what has been reported from the major sports venues the junior QB for the Cardinals did not throw well in shorts and a t-shirt, and so the mass hysteria of going back to see more tape about him has begun. With how much tape has been watched about him already I have to wonder what scouts and/or coaches will now see about the young man that they did not see before. How much more can anyone break down tape on someone they have watched over and over?
With all of that, the fact remains that five of the first eight franchises need a quarterback this season. Bridgewater, who completed 71 percent of his passes for 3,970 yards with 31 touchdowns and four interceptions in `14, will still find himself a top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The only question will be, as some franchise say to be lukewarm on Bridgewater, will he drop behind another QB because of sub par performance yesterday? It could happen, which once again proves that there is way too much post football when it comes to these players about to make it to the NFL.
I have always believed that the National Football League does it right by not allowing players to come out “too early” from the college ranks, giving both the player a chance to develop and the franchises a chance to pick the right player. Even then bad picks have been made early on in many drafts. This is even more evident when it comes to the man under center. But there is no way that a bad day on a practice field should change what a player has done in three seasons on the field.
NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock said that while most quarterbacks have good pro days because they are able to script the workout and are throwing in a controlled environment, Bridgewater’s workout was “average at best.” Mayock said he saw “a lot of flutters, a lot of inaccuracy.”
Only time will tell, but in my opinion what you saw of Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville will be what you get in the NFL. Which means good IQ of the game, a decent arm, good footwork, able to roll out, making him an overall good QB. Can the Cards gunslinger be a franchise player for one of the thirty-two teams at the next level? Again, only time will tell, but it would be a shame to let him pass if you thought this was your man due to a bad Pro Day. May 8-10 will be the NFL Draft and only then we will see where the young man goes, and then we can continue the discussion if the results from yesterday caused him to dropped or not. Until then let the analysts and experts tell you their opinion, I just told you mine!
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