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This is a smart move by the New York Jets.
I’m talking about the Jets signing of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
And this has nothing to do with him challenging for the starting job in 2018. It’s not about that.
First off, as I mentioned other day, the Jets’ backup QB plan was misguided last year. To have to raw, developmental quarterbacks, with accuracy issues, in the #2 and #3 spots, was shortsighted and agenda-driven.
I have nothing against Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg. They both fine young men who work very hard, but based on where they were in their development last year, if you were going to keep them around, one should have been the #3, and the other on the practice squad. The #2 spot should have been a person more-ready to win games if the starter got hurt.
But the Jets had a charade going on last year, a self-fulfilling prophecy, first with the faux quarterback competition through the spring and summer with Josh McCown, Hackenberg and Petty, and then by keeping them both on the roster.
It was like that place in Hope, New Jersey – “The Land of Make Believe.”
Once again, nothing against Petty and McCown who are good guys, but neither was ready to be a #2 QB last year.
So now with Bridgewater in town, they have a bonafide #2 QB who can get your through games. This is a player with 28 career NFL starts. That is SO helpful when a signal-caller has to come off the bench, having the frame of reference from having been there, done that.
So that this is one reason why signing Bridgewater was so smart.
The second reason is they can kick the tires on him all year and determine whether he can be their “QB of the future.”
Remember we are talking about a former #1 pick QB who is just 25
So many people are talking about the Jets picking a QB at six, and that is a possibility, but if they don’t, and fill another need, people will ask, “Well, who is the heir apparent to Josh McCown?”
While Bridgewater is only on a one-year deal, if the Jets like what they see in preseason, practice and perhaps some regular season action if the starter gets hurt or the Jets fall out of playoff contention, they might have their “QB of the future” in Bridgewater. Also, they get to see over the course of this year if his surgical knee is back to normal and not impeding him in any way. If they like what they see, they just need to re-sign Bridgewater, which shouldn’t be hard.
And after a year of training in Jeremy Bates offense by the OC and McCown, he will be well-versed on their system, and could be ready to be the Jets’ starter in 2018.
So those are two reasons I think this is a terrific move.
It’s not a ton a money, and it potentially will lead to two good results.
March 15, 2018
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