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Charley, Charley, Charley...smh

purplefaithful
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Charley Walters: Bradford activation likely means Teddy Bridgewater’s Vikings days are over
The Vikings’ decision on Saturday to activate quarterback Sam Bradford for Sunday afternoon’s playoff game against New Orleans would seem to indicate QB Teddy Bridgewater’s days in Minnesota probably are finished.
What will be intriguing against the Saints, considering Sunday is do or die for the Vikings, is how long coach Mike Zimmer waits to hook starter Case Keenumif Keenum falters. Bradford, remember, sliced up the Saints 29-19 in this season’s opener, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns.
https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/13/charley-walters-bradford-activation-likely-means-teddy-bridgewaters-vikings-days-are-over/

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

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#1 · Jan 13, 9:49 PM
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Ok, seeing as Mike is a Big Tuna disciple...Maybe this is pure mind games with Keenum...honestly, I just can't find anything that makes sense...I'm imagining a lot of 3 TE sets with Collins...it's a real head scratcher and maybe that was the sole intent...

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#22 · Jan 14, 7:40 AM
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@"Montana Tom" said: I have a totally different theory.  Sam captured lightning in a bottle in Game 1 against the Saints.  This is a team, and that Game 1 started us on the bumpy road that ended 13-3.  Zim is using his Tsu and wang chung to reward Sam and bring the team together to recognize that win, and stoke some form of karma and luck that Sam brought.  It's a way to say, "hey, he was on the field for that win, and we are going to allow him to at least dress."  It has absolutely no meaning that Sam is the #2 backup, nor that Teddy has been designated #2 backup.  If Keenum performs (again), there is no need.  But think about this for a second...you have wunderkind Keenum on the field, and not one, but two former #1 picks behind him...doesn't that just mess with your head a teeny bit, if you were the Saints?
Not at all. Why would it? There is zero way either Bradford or Bridgewater is getting in there unless Keenum just upchucks his lunch....big time. Which would be a disaster for the Vikings today. Or gets injured. He's the reason this team got to 13 wins. With all due respect, who's scared of Teddy Bridgewater, lol? Bradford lit them up in week 1, but when's the last time he played any meaningful football? I mean, I think this actually is a GOOD situation for New Orleans, not bad. The overwhelmingly best way for the Vikings to win this game is with Keenum QBing the whole game. 
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#23 · Jan 14, 7:43 AM
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@"StickyBun" said:
@"A1Janitor" said:
@"StickyBun" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said:
@"StickyBun" said:
@"twgerber" said: Star Tribune saying Teddy is the #2
And he might be. But then my question is why make Bradford active then? Zimmer has never had 3 QBs active on game day before. I don't get it. 

I guess I'm trying to put logic to a situation that might not be logical?



Has Zim ever been in the situation of having a playoff game and the starter has no playoff experience,  and the next 2 QBs are both coming back from extended absences with no game experience to shake the rust loose?   Today is kind of unique and that may change how he approaches the most important position on the field.   I would be more comfortable with 2 unknowns at backup instead of just one.


jimmy, if Z has to go to a backup, the game is lost anyway. 

I get that you are trying to make sense of it like everyone else. 



I don't think this is true.  What if the Vikes are ahead at half, and Case gets a concussion early in the third?  Who would you put in to salvage the win?

I would go with Sam. 

Or - if you are down in fourth and Case is ineffective.  Would
you trust Sam or Teddy to bring us back?



Yes, of course if the change were injury related. Z is not making a change if the score is close, won't happen. 


LOL You were the one who said "if Z has to go to a backup, the game is lost anyway".

Z won't have to go a backup unless there is an injury at home with this defense.  This game will be close, unless we get up early and blow them out. 

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#24 · Jan 14, 7:47 AM
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#25 · Jan 14, 7:55 AM
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I don't understand why this would mean anything at all to Keenum. Vikings had to either keep Sam on IR, ending his season, or activate him. They chose to activate him. I mean, why not? Because we expect Kyle Carter to be the difference in the game?  Removing Sam from the IR doesn't signal anything to Keenum. Doesn't mean Sam is now #2. Doesn't even mean Sam is going to dress. Just means he's no longer on IR, which is a good thing. We may need him. 

In typical Zimmer fashion, no one seems to know who's going to be active or inactive. And neither do I. Could be Sam, could be Teddy. One thing I do know, however, is that neither decision would signal much of anything for the future. Vikings are likely thinking only about the Saints, and what gives them the best chance to win, not who their future QB is going to be. People, especially Charley, are jumping to a lot of ridiculous conclusions about this.

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#26 · Jan 14, 8:11 AM
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@"StickyBun" said:
@"twgerber" said: Star Tribune saying Teddy is the #2
And he might be. But then my question is why make Bradford active then? Zimmer has never had 3 QBs active on game day before. I don't get it. 

I guess I'm trying to put logic to a situation that might not be logical?



i dont know, maybe the activate bradford in case something happens to Case or Teddy. or if we just determine he is potentially more valuable to playoff run than another player. i mean if we dont activate Sam then we can not possibly use him if shit get crazy enough for us to need 3 qbs. i know i feel more comfortable with 3 qbs than some scrub named Kyle Carter. 

i mean come on that makes perfect sense. but, no it must be an indication that teddy is gone. mental gymnastics. 

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#27 · Jan 14, 8:19 AM
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@"Vikeking2" said:
@"StickyBun" said:
@"twgerber" said: Star Tribune saying Teddy is the #2
And he might be. But then my question is why make Bradford active then? Zimmer has never had 3 QBs active on game day before. I don't get it. 

I guess I'm trying to put logic to a situation that might not be logical?



i dont know, maybe the activate bradford in case something happens to Case or Teddy. or if we just determine he is potentially more valuable to playoff run than another player. i mean if we dont activate Sam then we can not possibly use him if shit get crazy enough for us to need 3 qbs. i know i feel more comfortable with 3 qbs than some scrub named Kyle Carter. 

i mean come on that makes perfect sense. but, no it must be an indication that teddy is gone. mental gymnastics. 



I like Teddy as much as the next guy,  but the questions this raises about Teddys future here are certainly plausible when you look at the facts and the history.  I could argue this one either way with conviction and still have doubts.  Zim isnt the kind of guy to go around doing shit to make people feel good.  He does things to win football games,  now the only real question is does what he does now have any bearing on where his head is at for next year?

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#28 · Jan 14, 8:45 AM
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@"purplefaithful" said: I still don't know if Bridgewater is #2 on Sunday or Sam is??
Sam is the #2 today. 
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#29 · Jan 14, 9:19 AM
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@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"purplefaithful" said: I still don't know if Bridgewater is #2 on Sunday or Sam is??
Sam is the #2 today. 
Wow...whiplash

Why? Bridgewater have a set-back? Contractual? Performance @ Practice? Other??

What does this mean for future at QB?

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#30 · Jan 14, 9:25 AM
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Nobody is going to tell me this doesn't mean something as far as how they view their QB situation moving forward for the offseason. Nothing else makes any sense whatsoever. Delude yourself at your leisure. The ONLY thing that makes sense otherwise is an unknown tweaky injury to Teddy, than of course its much noise about nothing.

Local and national media feel the same.

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#31 · Jan 14, 9:31 AM
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@"purplefaithful" said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"purplefaithful" said: I still don't know if Bridgewater is #2 on Sunday or Sam is??
Sam is the #2 today. 
Wow...whiplash

Why? Bridgewater have a set-back? Contractual? Performance @ Practice? Other??

What does this mean for future at QB?



Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

What it means, if true, is that they trust Bradford more against the Saints. Why? Maybe it has something to do with the knees. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's actually played football this year. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's already scouted, prepared for and played the Saints once this year. Could be any number of things, but it doesn't mean anything about the future. 

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#32 · Jan 14, 9:40 AM
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The #2 QB has not been officially announced.  It's all based off speculation from Ian Rapport who thinks this because why else would they have activated Sam.   No insider info there.

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#33 · Jan 14, 9:49 AM
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@"twgerber" said: The #2 QB has not been officially announced.  It's all based off speculation from Ian Rapport who thinks this because why else would they have activated Sam.   No insider info there.
Guru is usually pretty spot on...
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#34 · Jan 14, 9:51 AM
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Maybe it is a reward for Sam putting in the effort and paying out of his own pocket at times to get back on the field. Naming him a 2 or a 3 doesn’t really matter if neither backups play. Sends a message to the rest of the players that hard work is rewarded.

I say he only crosses that bridge of who plays if Keenum gies down or isn’t effective when he gets to it.

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#35 · Jan 14, 9:58 AM
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I think it is much ado about nothing at this point.

How it relates to Teddy returning, well, it could be a little negotiation strategy.  If Teddy does not play then maybe the Vikings will feel that he cannot reasonably ask for anything around 18 mil after not playing the last two seasons.

I doubt they are playing this kind of game when it comes to who will suit up for a playoff game.

It really just comes down to which players have played well most recently.  For Teddy, it is the pre-season in 2016.  At least that is how I would look at it.

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#36 · Jan 14, 10:15 AM
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@"MaroonBells" said:
@"purplefaithful" said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"purplefaithful" said: I still don't know if Bridgewater is #2 on Sunday or Sam is??
Sam is the #2 today. 
Wow...whiplash

Why? Bridgewater have a set-back? Contractual? Performance @ Practice? Other??

What does this mean for future at QB?



Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

What it means, if true, is that they trust Bradford more against the Saints. Why? Maybe it has something to do with the knees. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's actually played football this year. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's already scouted, prepared for and played the Saints once this year. Could be any number of things, but it doesn't mean anything about the future. 



I think the Vikings understand that Bradford has played against the Saints already this season and ripped them a new one at the beginning of the season. Although their defense has improved, its the same system. I don't think it has much to do with a setback, but more about knowing what you'd get vs. the unknown. 

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#37 · Jan 14, 10:46 AM
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If I'm Teddy this is kind of a slap in the face if Bradford is made the #2 after a couple practices.  If the Vikings wanted Teddy back next season, why activate Bradford and make him the backup???  Seems to speak volumes about what the Vikings may be planning next season...  doesn't seem like Teddy is in their plans.  If not, they just potentially ruined a relationship with their QB of the future...  

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#38 · Jan 14, 10:48 AM
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@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"MaroonBells" said:
@"purplefaithful" said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"purplefaithful" said: I still don't know if Bridgewater is #2 on Sunday or Sam is??
Sam is the #2 today. 
Wow...whiplash

Why? Bridgewater have a set-back? Contractual? Performance @ Practice? Other??

What does this mean for future at QB?



Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

What it means, if true, is that they trust Bradford more against the Saints. Why? Maybe it has something to do with the knees. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's actually played football this year. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's already scouted, prepared for and played the Saints once this year. Could be any number of things, but it doesn't mean anything about the future. 



I think the Vikings understand that Bradford has played against the Saints already this season and ripped them a new one at the beginning of the season. Although their defense has improved, its the same system. I don't think it has much to do with a setback, but more about knowing what you'd get vs. the unknown. 


Makes sense...Old sleeves must have looked good enough in practices to give Zimm and Shurmur confidence he could go in if needed. 

Lets hope the season continues after today and the narrative tonight is how well Case played in this big Divisional game and how do we beat the Eagles on their turf. 

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#39 · Jan 14, 10:49 AM
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@"Wetlander" said: If I'm Teddy this is kind of a slap in the face if Bradford is made the #2 after a couple practices.  If the Vikings wanted Teddy back next season, why activate Bradford and make him the backup???  Seems to speak volumes about what the Vikings may be planning next season...  doesn't seem like Teddy is in their plans.  If not, they just potentially ruined a relationship with their QB of the future...  


The Vikings keep saying they haven't had the discussions yet, but from what I've heard they were shying on retaining Bridgewater. At this point they want to win, but I agree there may be long-term implications with the decision. 

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#40 · Jan 14, 10:53 AM
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C'mon the answer is obvious. Shurmur wants to try his 3 QB Wildcat formation. :D

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#41 · Jan 14, 11:04 AM
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