Social distancing: Teddy Bridgewater using 'Madden' to learn about his Panthers teammates
There are a few industries that must be doing OK as people stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Video games must be high on that list. And video games are helping the 2020 Carolina Panthers.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Panthers as a free agent this week, becoming their new starting quarterback. He can’t go and work out with his new teammates and he doesn’t know when or if offseason camps will happen.
So Bridgewater is doing the next best thing. He’s learning about his new teammates by playing “Madden.”
Teddy Bridgewater playing with Panthers on ‘Madden’
Bridgewater had an online press conference Thursday. These are unprecedented times.
Welcome to the first ever Carolina Panthers virtual press conference featuring Teddy Bridgewater and guests - pic.twitter.com/Pu5W3XXHZX
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) March 26, 2020
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Bridgewater is staying at home, checking in with new Panthers teammates to make sure they’re safe, and going over old play sheets.
Oh, and he’s playing video games too.
Omg - Teddy Bridgewater says playing Madden as the Panthers is actually helping him get a better feel for some of the guys on the roster from afar - “and also, the Internet helps with that” LMAO
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) March 26, 2020
NFL players have to get creative
“Madden,” the longtime king of NFL simulation video games, is so realistic that it’s not crazy to have some fun and figure out some things about his new teammates. Even his virtual new teammates.
The NFL is going to have to get a bit creative this offseason. It’s an offseason unlike any other the league has experienced. For players switching teams, they have to do what they can to learn what they can about their new teammates. No word on whether Bridgewater traded for new Panthers receiver Robby Anderson on the game to make it
There are worse ideas than playing “Madden” to do it. Now we just need to know Bridgewater’s handle for some online gaming.
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