Panthers head coach Matt Rhule lifts lid on difficult first month
By Dean Jones
Matt Rhule on Teddy Bridgewater
The Carolina Panthers picked up their quarterback of the future in free agency with the acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater. The former New Orleans Saints backup went 5-0 in Drew Brees’ absence in 2019 and earned the right for a more prominent starting role elsewhere.
Bridgewater penned a three-year, $63 million contract with the Panthers. This included a signing bonus of $15 million and $33 million in guarantees. Head coach Matt Rhule is hoping the player’s relationship with offensive coordinator Joe Brady can play a leading role in a turnaround in fortunes for the organization.
"“Really as you’re sitting there in a time with no offseason, (Bridgewater) walks in Day 1, he knows the verbiage, he knows the concepts. You watch him on tape, he’s executing the plays that we’re going to run. So you feel really good about that. And then, throughout his career, he’s someone who makes everyone around him better. “I think he’s the perfect fit for us, for our offense, for where this team wants to go.”"
Bridgewater has come back from the brink after significant leg injury when he was the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. This threatened his career and even the use of his leg at one stage.
He has steadily grown in confidence and is sure to have received a huge boost in self-esteem during his unbeaten time under center for the Saints in 2019.