Teddy Bridgewater: You can’t be selfish with your gift

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - The chants of “Ted-dy, Ted-dy” on Monday night were much louder than the ones Teddy Bridgewater heard on Tuesday (Dec. 17) afternoon.

But for the Saints’ quarterback, the ones by the screaming second graders at the Kenner Discovery Health Science Academy meant even more to him than the ones the night before by the screaming Who Dat Nation in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

“I get more excited hearing the cheers from the children,” Bridgewater said. “They are full of potential and full of energy and their energy does something to my spirit.”

It’s why Bridgewater was in Kenner in the first place on the Saints’ off day on Tuesday.

This was a chance for Bridgewater to give back to the kids, something near and dear to him.

“I was once a child and I was once in their shoes,” Bridgewater said. “As children we have so much energy and so much potential. Sometimes we just need the right individuals to bring it out of us. That’s why I’m so passionate about it. Today it was just great to be able to share my story and hopefully be able to motivate different children to understand that to make your dream come true there are going to be some things you have to take care of.”

Bridgewater stressed some of those things when he first spoke to 100 athletes at the school competing in varsity athletics for the first time. He then spoke to the second graders and read to them his book “Little Bear Teddy Big Dream Come True.” It was during that reading that the “Ted-dy” chants broke out, just like they do in the children’s book. Bridgewater stressed hard work and taking care of academics.

Why are these types of appearances important to Bridgewater?

“Just understanding that you can’t be selfish with your gift,” Bridgewater said. “I have a gift of being able to play football, but I also feel like I have a gift of motivating. My story can sometimes motivate people and I realized that I can’t be selfish with that.”

Bridgewater, in his second season with the New Orleans Saints, has embraced the city more in Year 2. Over the weekend, he attended the LHSAA state football championships at the Superdome on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, he sat on the bench with players from St. James High School. He was more low key on Saturday, opting to sit in the stands and stay away from the cameras. He went to the game on a whim after just sitting around at home and realizing there was high school football being played in town.

“It’s just great to go back and allow those athletes to see you in the flesh,” Bridgewater said. “I grew up looking up to guys on TV that I never got an opportunity to meet. You never know who on that football field may be a fan of yours or you may be someone’s role model. So you allow them to see you in the flesh and realize that this guy is a normal cat just like I am. That’s what I’m all about.”

And while Bridgewater has embraced New Orleans, the city has embraced him back. They chanted his name Monday night during the Saints’ blowout victory over the Indianapolis Colts. That Teddy love started taking off after he helped lead the Saints to a 5-0 record when he filled in for Drew Brees after Brees tore a ligament in his thumb. Bridgewater, the highest paid backup in the NFL under his current 1-year deal, proved to be worth that as he helped salvage a season that easily could have gone down the drain. His play in those five games will have other teams throwing lucrative dollars to him this offseason to try to lure him away.

Bridgewater hasn’t given any hints on whether he plans to stay in New Orleans or explore other options.

But it’s quite clear that wherever he is, be it in New Orleans or somewhere else, giving back to the youth will always be important to him. Their smiles make him smile. Especially those moments like Tuesday when they chanted his name.

“It lets you know that you’re doing something right,” Bridgewater said. “You’re making an impact in their lives and it kinda gives me the chills.”