IT’S ALL YOURS, KID!
Teddy, leaving no doubt Sam is No. 1
Teddy Time did not last very long in New York.
The Jets traded quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the Saints on Wednesday, the team announced. They also sent the Saints a 2019 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2019 third-round pick.
If there was a shred of doubt rookie Sam Darnold would open the season as the Jets’ starting quarterback, that is now gone. The feeling inside the Jets for weeks has been that Darnold would get the nod, but there were some who thought Bridgewater had a slight chance.
The trade is not a surprise. The Jets have been open about their willingness to trade Bridgewater during the preseason. They paid Bridgewater just a $1 million in signing and roster bonuses, so they essentially paid that for the draft pick from the Saints. It was a shrewd move by Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan to sign Bridgewater and then turn him into an extra draft pick.
Bridgewater showed that he was healthy after missing most of the last two seasons following knee surgery. Thursday marks two years since Bridgewater dislocated his left knee and tore multiple ligaments during a practice with the Vikings. That injury kept him out for all of 2016 and most of 2017.
The Jets took a chance on Bridgewater in March, signing him to a one-year, $6 million deal that included playing-time incentives. The 2015 Pro Bowler showed no signs of his knee injury, practicing fully in the spring and summer. He then played well in three preseason games, completing 28-of-38 passes (74 percent) for 316 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
“He’s never showed me that he was injured,” Todd Bowles said. “He did everything in the spring and everything in the summer. He hasn’t taken a play or a day off or show any limp or any hitch to his giddy-up. I’ve never seen it, so I just keep it out of mind. He’s always smiling and doing everything full speed, so I don’t even worry about it. I’m just happy for him.”
Despite playing well, it became clear in training camp the Jets were going with Darnold. The rookie began to get most of the first-team reps and he started the second and third preseason games. Bridgewater did not face a starting defense in the preseason games.
Bridgewater was told of the trade on Wednesday just before the Jets boarded the buses heading to Philadelphia for Thursday’s preseason finale with the Eagles. He boarded the buses and said goodbye to the Jets coaches, players and staff members, according to a source. Bridgewater was universally respected and admired inside the Jets organization during his brief stay.
Now, Bridgewater will back up Drew Brees in New Orleans and possibly have a shot to replace him if the Saints sign him to an extension.
The Jets will move on with Darnold starting and veteran Josh McCown serving as his backup.
Darnold will become the youngest quarterback to start a season opener since the 1970 merger, according to the NFL. He will be 21 years and 97 days old when the Jets play the Lions on Sept. 10. He will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a game regardless of what week. Tommy Maddox was 21 years, 81 days for the Broncos in 1992.
This will be the third time in the last decade the Jets open the season with a rookie quarterback. Mark Sanchez started the 2009 season and Geno Smith was the starter in 2013.
The Jets now have six picks in the 2019 draft – a first, two thirds,
a fourth, a f ifth and a seventh. They traded t hei r second-round pick to the Colts to move up to No. 3 in the draft and eventually take Darnold.