New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is walking a little gingerly today after sustaining giant brass balls in the final minute of New Orleans’ 33-27 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.
Thrust into the starting role after quarterback Drew Brees suffered a thumb injury last week, Bridgewater appeared to walk with a longer, more open stride to avoid aggravating the condition as he went to shake hands after the game ended.
Bridgewater, with tears in his eyes, could be seen in significant elation on the field and then retreated to the locker room with what appeared to be significant bravado. He was listed today on the injury report with what the team called a “groin injury.”
Bridgewater led the Saints to their first win without future Hall of Famer Drew Brees since November of 2005.
“Teddy is walking a little differently today, it’s definitely noticeable,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “The swelling should go down in the next few days and it shouldn’t affect him going forward, though the doctors say there may be some minor residual effects for 6-8 weeks.”
Prior to the injury, the 26-year-old Bridgewater, maligned by some fans, completed 19 of 27 passes for 177 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 giant suck it in his first meaningful start in 4 years and in one of the NFL’s toughest venues. He played a mistake-free game despite the rainy weather and ended up handing the Seahawks their first defeat in September during the Pete Carroll era, who had gone 15-0 prior to the game. With four minutes to go, the Saints had a commanding 33-14 lead and closed out 33-27, a score that appears much closer than the actual game played out.
To celebrate the victory, the Saints blared Choppa Style in the locker room, and Bridgewater broke out with his signature Bike Life dance.
“It can sometimes be hard to move [with giant brass balls] but Teddy is a veteran who will make adjustments and rearrange himself to get the job done. We have some faith in Teddy. He’s our quarterback while Drew is out and he’s a winner, and now everyone can see that literally,” a confident Payton said.
“If some people are still going to try to bust his balls after that big-time road win they better come with a wrecking ball because Teddy ‘Brass Balls’ is in the building. And Big Nutz Lutz is backing him up.”