Zulgad: Vikings likely to put their trust in Teddy
As the Vikings’ feel-good season of 2017 played out before our eyes we knew this day was coming. We just didn’t know when and members of the franchise, and fans alike, were hoping it would be after a Super Bowl parade.That possibility came to an abrupt and ugly end on Sunday as the Eagles ran the Vikings off the field in Philadelphia in the NFC title game. So on Tuesday coach Mike Zimmer gave his end-of-season press conference at Winter Park, fielding a variety of questions about the direction of the franchise.
None was more important than the ones involving the Vikings’ plan at quarterback. For all the success the Vikings had in going 13-3 this season, and then winning an NFC Divisional playoff game against New Orleans in miraculous fashion, this team has little certainty at the most important position in sports.
Case Keenum, the starting quarterback for much of 2017; Sam Bradford, the guy who entered the season as the starting QB and lasted one game before a sore knee wrecked his year; and Teddy Bridgewater, who is on the mend from a gruesome knee injury suffered in August 2016, all are due to become free agents this March.
The national folks assume that Keenum is a slam dunk to return, either playing under the franchise tag or with a rich multiyear contract that he couldn’t have possibly expected when the career backup signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Minnesota last spring to serve as Bradford’s backup.
Keenum, who will turn 30 on Feb. 17, was 11-3 as the Vikings’ starter, throwing for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Keenum had never started more than nine games in his previous four seasons and his success, and likability, made for a great story.
His teammates rallied around him and his struggles in the Vikings’ opening playoff game were overshadowed by his last-second 61-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs that provided one of the most memorable moments in Vikings history.
The feeling was that if Keenum had gotten the Vikings to the Super Bowl it would be impossible not to bring him back, even though Zimmer never seemed to be completely sold on him. Evidence that Zimmer lacked faith in Keenum was everywhere. He refused to name Keenum his starter for much of the season. He said Keenum had a “horseshoe” after a 24-7 win in November over the Rams. He said he became comfortable with Keenum “four or five weeks ago,” in late December.
Zimmer seemed to always be ready for Keenum’s magic to disappear. That began to happen in the second half against the Saints. It was fully gone by Sunday as Keenum threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the red zone against the Eagles.
So where do Zimmer and the Vikings turn now?
The feeling here is it won’t be to Keenum.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/01/zulgad-vikings-likely-put-trust-teddy/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
If the Vikings do go with Teddy they had better be right. Nothing anyone says here is going to prove that the dude will be the same still developing QB that he was before the injury.
The question is do the Vikings want to risk the likely top 3 defense with a QB that they are not sure is going to continue on his development path prior to injury.
He was far from a finished product but was showing promise in the pre-season which really means diddly. Still, it was good to see.
Any stats that nerds can pull out of the internet are just numbers.
Dude has a TON to prove when he does return. Not only does he have to prove he is going to get better than he was before he got hurt but he has to prove he is durable.
It is very risky to put the trust in Teddy and it could ultimately cost some people their jobs.
Some food for thought on QB's by CBS sports.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/predicting-where-10-qbs-who-could-hit-the-market-this-offseason-will-be-in-2018/
@"Norse" said: Some food for thought on QB's by CBS sports.
If Vikings tag Keenum it would be hard to see Teddy willingly re-signing. I would expect that Teddy would at least test the market. It could be that a team like the Cardinals try to sign Teddy AND draft a QB at #15. Maybe the Bills try to sign Teddy AND draft a QB at #21?
I think he may find a situation where he could at least start for a season and prove he is back.
I just do not think a competition is really going to happen if Case is getting over 20 mil.
I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.
Then again, Case looking a lot like he'd slammed into his ceiling wasn't too easy on the ol' brain, either.
Meanwhile, our snakebitten former #1 pick may be truly recovered...or not.
My brain hurts.
IF Bradford and Teddy are both THAT QUESTIONABLE and THEY LOVE SLOTER, then I could see them signing Case for 2-3 years while Sloter curates some.
@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.Then again, Case looking a lot like he'd slammed into his ceiling wasn't too easy on the ol' brain, either.
Meanwhile, our snakebitten former #1 pick may be truly recovered...or not.
My brain hurts.
Could you link them? I've only heard that from a poster who is very anti teddy so I kind of blew it off.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.Then again, Case looking a lot like he'd slammed into his ceiling wasn't too easy on the ol' brain, either.
Meanwhile, our snakebitten former #1 pick may be truly recovered...or not.
My brain hurts.
Could you link them? I've only heard that from a poster who is very anti teddy so I kind of blew it off.
Yeah, ditto. I haven't seen anything like that. If true, then it could mean that Teddy's "test of my character" comment could be more about knee frustrations than the lack of playing time and deactivation.
@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.
Complete B.S. I've never seen one article that said anything about him favoring his knee. He wouldn't have been allowed off of IR if that were the case. Z said he was 100% ready to go.
Yes, agreed it was sobering that he was deactivated, because that tells a story. And not a good one for Teddy. If as an organization you feel that the offense needs to be more dynamic and you don't feel that can happen with Keenum or Bridgewater, so be it. I've seen more excuse making for Teddy's deactivation on this board, its mind blowing. Its pretty black and white to me: the coaches felt he wasn't the best option in important games. Not sure what else you could take from it unless you firmly have your purple goggles in place. Teddy's 'test of my character' comment came because he's healthy and frustrated that he was bypassed.
Typical black and white Sticky hot take.
How about the one? Shurmer preferred Bradford, whom he's coached for how many years in how many games, over the kid he's only coached in a film room.
Whoa. Earth shattering stuff. Turns out it's a gray world after all.
@"FSUVike" said: Typical black and white Sticky hot take.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.Then again, Case looking a lot like he'd slammed into his ceiling wasn't too easy on the ol' brain, either.
Meanwhile, our snakebitten former #1 pick may be truly recovered...or not.
My brain hurts.
Could you link them? I've only heard that from a poster who is very anti teddy so I kind of blew it off.
Yeah, ditto. I haven't seen anything like that. If true, then it could mean that Teddy's "test of my character" comment could be more about knee frustrations than the lack of playing time and deactivation.
Watching that comment in context, I think he meant the whole season, into his second year of rehab, getting back for a few plays but not being able to take over the starting gig and then having to watch in the post season.I didn't see or hear any indication that it was all about being deactivated. Not hard to understand how his journey has been a test of his character.
@"StickyBun" said:@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.
Complete B.S. I've never seen one article that said anything about him favoring his knee. He wouldn't have been allowed off of IR if that were the case. Z said he was 100% ready to go.Yes, agreed it was sobering that he was deactivated, because that tells a story. And not a good one for Teddy. If as an organization you feel that the offense needs to be more dynamic and you don't feel that can happen with Keenum or Bridgewater, so be it. I've seen more excuse making for Teddy's deactivation on this board, its mind blowing. Its pretty black and white to me: the coaches felt he wasn't the best option in important games. Not sure what else you could take from it unless you firmly have your purple goggles in place. Teddy's 'test of my character' comment came because he's healthy and frustrated that he was bypassed.
Yeah, it couldn't possibly be because of Bradford's familiarity with Shurmur and his offense, or his familiarity with both the Dennis Allen and the Jim Schwartz defenses, or the fact that Bradford has actually played football in the last two years, or the fact that Bradford destroyed the Saints the last time he played them.No, it must be because the coaches suddenly think Teddy sucks. Where's a good eyeroll emoji when you want one? The level to which some of you want to read secret truths and alternative facts into simple, plausible, logical decisions is just mind-numbing.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"Zanary" said: I've seen a number of very recent articles stating that Teddy is still obviously favoring one knee...and knowing Zim's affection for the kid, seeing him deactivated in the playoffs was pretty sobering.
Complete B.S. I've never seen one article that said anything about him favoring his knee. He wouldn't have been allowed off of IR if that were the case. Z said he was 100% ready to go.Yes, agreed it was sobering that he was deactivated, because that tells a story. And not a good one for Teddy. If as an organization you feel that the offense needs to be more dynamic and you don't feel that can happen with Keenum or Bridgewater, so be it. I've seen more excuse making for Teddy's deactivation on this board, its mind blowing. Its pretty black and white to me: the coaches felt he wasn't the best option in important games. Not sure what else you could take from it unless you firmly have your purple goggles in place. Teddy's 'test of my character' comment came because he's healthy and frustrated that he was bypassed.
Yeah, it couldn't possibly be because of Bradford's familiarity with Shurmur and his offense, or his familiarity with both the Dennis Allen and the Jim Schwartz defenses, or the fact that Bradford has actually played football in the last two years, or the fact that Bradford destroyed the Saints the last time he played them.No, it must be because the coaches suddenly think Teddy sucks. Where's a good eyeroll emoji when you want one? The level to which some of you want to read secret truths and alternative facts into simple, plausible, logical decisions is just mind-numbing.
Plausible?? To whom? LOL. Secret truths? What's secret about deactivating your #2 QB who had been practicing with the team since what, November 8th, almost 2 months and Bradford hadn't practiced since end of September?We also have a few on this board that feel the picture below is also 'plausible'.
Or it could have simply been the coaches thought a healthy Bradford was better suited to win than a healthy Teddy. As other have said, given he actually practiced in this offense, ran it in the preseason, 1st week. Teddy had practiced it as well, but with limited snaps and very minimal game experience.
Coaches surprisingly do what they think will give them the best opportunity to win.
I guess i read somewhere Teddy’s injury takes 24 months to heal if it even does. obviously the knee is stable but how well
is it functioning? Nothing wrong with hoping for your #1 pick potential franchise QB to completely heal and come back better than before
I'm sure Teddy has had a lot of ups & downs in his recovery. Always good days and bad days. I think at the time of the playoffs, the coaches though Sam was the better option.
No since reading to much into the decision.
The next couple months will be telling.
If there was an article stating was obviously favoring his knee, it would have been posted here already.
One mention is in here, by Chris Simms:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2753429-chris-simms-picks-for-nfl-offseason-qb-carousel
@"Zanary" said: One mention is in here, by Chris Simms:http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2753429-chris-simms-picks-for-nfl-offseason-qb-carousel
thanks,
I am curious as to when Simms last saw Teddy. He was still a little gimpy in camp and favoring that knee, but the times i've seen him running/walking in the last 3 months or so I havent seen any limp or issues at all.
@"Zanary" said: One mention is in here, by Chris Simms:http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2753429-chris-simms-picks-for-nfl-offseason-qb-carousel
That seems a little hard to fathom. Subtle favoring of a knee in traffic is one thing, but if a QB were "walking" with a limp (which would seem to indicate either pain or restriction), activating him, clearing him for practice and then putting him in a game would seem nearly criminal.
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