What??? Teddy to the Pro Bowl?

[fiestavike]

You don't understand why some people feel a QB who led one of the least effective passing games in the NFL shouldn't be in the Pro Bowl? Bridgewater is not one of the 7 best QBs in the league.

He's 8th.

[Purple bruise]

I wouldn't be so sure. He has 3 career games with 40+ attempts and he didn't throw for more than 1 TD in any of them. In fact, he's only thrown for more than 1 TD in 6 of the 29 games he's played.
They also like genuinely good QB play, which Dan Marino provided in spades. We've seen far too little of it from Bridgewater.
You don't understand why some people feel a QB who led one of the least effective passing games in the NFL shouldn't be in the Pro Bowl? Bridgewater is not one of the 7 best QBs in the league.

Great job of explaining it Mike2mike
So it was solely TB's fault that their passing attack was the least effective in the NFL It had nothing to do with average wide receivers, the worst pass blocking o-line in the league, or the fact that many of the coaching play calls sucked. Ergo the passing attack was the least effective so TB must be the worst QB in the entire league Okay then. Got it

[chicagopurple]

This just shows how thin the talent level in the NFL is for QB. Its odd. I dont know if less kids are going into football, or perhaps just less intelligent kids capable of playing QB. Guys like Flacco, Palmer, etc have made it to the "apex" when they really arent very good. Old guys like Manning are still out there because No One of quality is in the wings to take their place. It reallly doesnt bode well for the league.

[Purple bruise]

This just shows how thin the talent level in the NFL is for QB. Its odd. I dont know if less kids are going into football, or perhaps just less intelligent kids capable of playing QB. Guys like Flacco, Palmer, etc have made it to the "apex" when they really arent very good. Old guys like Manning are still out there because No One of quality is in the wings to take their place. It reallly doesnt bode well for the league.

Right Carr, Wilson, Winston and Newton have no upside I would include Mariota, Tyrod Taylor and yes TB in that group.

[mondry]

If you're going to look at stats... Be smart about it. The probowl is about the best and most talented players, not those who win the most fantasy football games but throw 5INTs for TDs and lose the game.

-If Teddy had as many passing attempts as Phil Rivers and maintained the same yards per attempt, he'd have ranked 3rd in NFL yardage ahead of Tom Brady. So his ability to produce yards with even a conservative mentality is there if he was asked to throw the ball often. Even if you just set everyone at an average number of attempts and adjust players, Teddy would see a boost while many of the "top QBs" in yards would see a drop.

-If he didn't have as many throw aways and grounding at the feet as a result of responding to his coaching and a conservative offense, he'd have even more. He might have more INTs and we might have not won the North... But who cares, right? . You could say that about everyone, but I mean if you adjusted for everyone, Teddy would see a more substantial boost than most because of the nature of the offense.

-You could use stats and math to approximate how offensive line play effects stats. In short, you could use a combination of league baseline stats under pressure and when not under pressure and adjust for how frequently a player was under pressure. In 2014 I think Teddy was under pressure a whopping 40% of all plays... Meaning when teams would rush 4 defenders, 40% of the time Teddy dropped back, he had a defender in his face. Blitz stats were calculated differently. I don't have the stats this year, but can't imagine it improved all that much with Sullivan and Loadholdt on IR. Teddy also was #1 in the NFL, ahead of Drew Brees on accuracy under pressure in 2014. Success in spite of poor OL play is an elite trait to have. If you adjusted for OL, Teddy would see a humongous boost in stats adjusted for his situation.

-If you look at stats like Eli Manning when throwing to Odell Beckham Vs any other WR or any other QB with a top WR and see the difference it makes, it's intuitive that Teddy would see a huge boost... but would be super taxing to calculate how much the average #1 WR boosts a QBs stats, how much each QB goes to the #1, and how much the QB would then produce with an "average #1 WR"...

-put him on a team with a bad defense and he's certain to get more yards and TDs per attempt with defense playing prevent late in the game.

Nevertheless... Bridgewater doesn't have a single WR on his team that was either drafted or acquired through trade for more than a 4th rounder (Patterson doesn't count because he doesn't see the field). He would see a substantial boost, particularly in deep all accuracy and deepball stats which he struggles in if he were throwing to Julio Jones, AJ Green, or Odell Beckham... Or even Mike Evans... Particularly if he had time and didn't face inside pressure that forced him to roll out.
--------
If you could have every QB play a full season with an average offense.... Teddy would project to have stats in the top 10, no question and possibly top 5. The big caveat there is projections assume all things remain equal.
In reality, when you pass more, play action works less well, more players are in coverage, more defenders are keyed on the pass rather than the run, and the stats don't end up as well as the projections.

Put Teddy in the shotgun all game and have him throw 50 times a game just one game and I guarentee you he passes for 300 yards and multiple TDs. Do that in an entire season and Teddy with zero additional development will break records.... Do that for 10 years and Teddy will be talked about with the all time greats... Probably right next to Dan Marino... Because people love highlights and record stats even if they're inflated and meaningless.

Since 6 QBs make the probowl and 1 of the best this year are in the Super Bowl, I don't know why anyone thinks Teddy doesn't deserve to go... Especially when several turned down invites and ELI fricking Manning made it.

Don't waste your breath lol, Good post though.

[TSonn]

You don't understand why some people feel a QB who led one of the least effective passing games in the NFL shouldn't be in the Pro Bowl? Bridgewater is not one of the 7 best QBs in the league.

I think it's interesting that critical articles about Teddy are quickly posted by moderators on this forum but nearly half a day went by before a regular poster started a thread about Teddy making the Pro Bowl. We all got the ESPN update to our phone. Sure, there are things to discuss about Teddy making the Pro Bowl, but how about some support for our 2nd year QB by the people running the most popular Vikings message board?

[Cliff]

I think it's interesting that critical articles about Teddy are quickly posted by moderators on this forum but nearly half a day went by before a regular poster started a thread about Teddy making the Pro Bowl. We all got the ESPN update to our phone. Sure, there are things to discuss about Teddy making the Pro Bowl, but how about some support for our 2nd year QB by the people running the most popular Vikings message board?

I think you'll find that the members of the board "staff" had rather split opinions about Teddy. I live in Louisville and since he played for UofL I was already a fan before he was a Viking. With that plus his personality and work ethic he is also one of my favorite players on the team. I have his rookie card on my desk at work ...



That said, I don't think he belongs in a game honoring the best in the league at his position for 2015. It's ok if you think that and I'm happy for him I'm sure it's a great experience. I can support our 2nd year QB without thinking he was one of the best QBs in the league last year.

Also ... there's nothing relating to ESPN on my phone.

Is this the most popular Vikings message board? I'm not sure about that.

[Purple Reign]

So it was solely TB's fault that their passing attack was the least effective in the NFL It had nothing to do with average wide receivers, the worst pass blocking o-line in the league, or the fact that many of the coaching play calls sucked. Ergo the passing attack was the least effective so TB must be the worst QB in the entire league Okay then. Got it

It doesn't matter why the Vikings passing offense was one of the worst this year. The qb is the one who gets too much credit when they do good and also gets too much blame when they don't do good, fair or not. But to say Teddy is deserving of the Pro Bowl because his receivers, o-line and coaches suck is pretty far fetched. Based on his stats, he should not be in the Pro Bowl although I understand why he is with all the declined invitations.

[Mothman]

I think it's interesting that critical articles about Teddy are quickly posted by moderators on this forum but nearly half a day went by before a regular poster started a thread about Teddy making the Pro Bowl. We all got the ESPN update to our phone. Sure, there are things to discuss about Teddy making the Pro Bowl, but how about some support for our 2nd year QB by the people running the most popular Vikings message board?

I've cheered for Bridgewater to succeed in every game he's played for the Vikings. I've literally cheered aloud for him from the stands in an opposing team's stadium two years in a row, while surrounded by fans of that team. That seems sufficiently supportive to me.

I didn't receive an ESPN update about Bridgewater making the Pro Bowl on my phone because I don't even own the type of phone that can receive such updates. I learned that Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl when I saw this thread. Consequently, I didn't start the thread because it already existed. It sounds like you did receive the news on your phone so why didn't you start the thread during that half a day you mentioned above?

As Cliff wrote, I don't think Bridgewater belongs in a game honoring the best in the league at his position. That's not an inherently unsupportive position. It just means I don't think he played well enough to deserve that honor. I hope it's a good experience for him and I hope he has a good game.

[jackal]

I think Teddy has the ability to be a pro bowl guy, someday soon. I don't feel
he should have went, this year. Kirk Cousins had a better year and deserved the spot
more. Of course Eli Manning going is a total joke.. so maybe give that spot to Teddy.
Bottom line the pro bowl is a joke more than a true judge of an NFL players true
worth and ability.

[S197]

players only receive contractual bonuses if they are among the originals voted in

I was wondering about this. Good to know.

[Raptorman]

Don't know what the big deal is really. Everyone know the Pro Bowl is a joke and anyone can really play in it. The only thing that could make this more surreal is if Patterson was put in as a WR.

[S197]

When I was young my Dad's company used to host the Pro Bowl so we were able to go to a dinner that most of the players attended. It made it pretty easy to get autographs, the only unspoken rule was don't ask for autographs while they're eating (It was buffet style so people were basically just walking all around, very casual)

I was already a big Vikings fan so all I was concerned about was getting Viking autographs, guys like Doleman, Carl Lee, Browner, etc.

If they weren't Vikings, I couldn't care less. My dad would be like, "There's Emmitt Smith, want his autograph?" "Nah" "What about John Elway?" "No thanks"

So now I have all these Pro Bowl programs with hall of famers that I could have gotten autographs from but never bothered

I suppose when the Vikings finally win the SB, I at least have proof I'm not a bandwagon fan!

[Mothman]

When I was young my Dad's company used to host the Pro Bowl so we were able to go to a dinner that most of the players attended. It made it pretty easy to get autographs, the only unspoken rule was don't ask for autographs while they're eating (It was buffet style so people were basically just walking all around, very casual)

I was already a big Vikings fan so all I was concerned about was getting Viking autographs, guys like Doleman, Carl Lee, Browner, etc.

If they weren't Vikings, I couldn't care less. My dad would be like, "There's Emmitt Smith, want his autograph?" "Nah" "What about John Elway?" "No thanks"

So now I have all these Pro Bowl programs with hall of famers that I could have gotten autographs from but never bothered

I suppose when the Vikings finally win the SB, I at least have proof I'm not a bandwagon fan!

That's hilarious.

I envy you those experiences though!

[fiestavike]

Don't waste your breath lol, Good post though.

exactly, there's no point saying anything in favor of teddy bridgewater...afterall it was the worst passing attack in the league (or some other non sequitur) is sure to follow.