Teddy Bridgewater is a hometown kid, a comeback story, a hard-working and capable NFL quarterback who met the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday night about signing with the team he grew up watching.
Those are all nice angles to hope it happens.
So why are so many Dolphins fans against it?
It's because Bridgewater's signing is deemed too risky by some fans. Too counter-productive. He's just too darn good, and the Miami Northwestern grad actually might go out and _ here's where we are, folks _ win a few games.
For the past two decades, the Dolphins have lost in an organic and perpetual manner that has driven fans nuts. Now so many of them want to tank in a way that gets them the No. 1 draft pick in 2020.
Let me be the clear on this: If the Dolphins sign Bridgewater as a bridge quarterback, the Dolphins' fortunes barely changes a blip. You want him because maybe you strike gold and he's great.
Probably, though, you get a solid veteran to strike a professional tone, help in the rebuild, allow a surrounding player or two to develop, but who can't carry this anvil of a team to win any particular Sunday.
In other words, with or without Bridgewater, the Dolphins look to stink next season.
Last place in the AFC East? Check.
Worst in the AFC altogether? Check.
No. 1 draft pick for Tua Tagovailoa in 2020?
Hold on here. This won't come as easy as you might think. And let me repeat again for the record I'm against tanking, which is un-American, anti-world order, invites a swift descent into nihilism and beyond that, hasn't proven to work in the NFL.
It's not even clear the Dolphins are going this route, either, because they haven't thrown anyone overboard in this early rebuilding who might help them win except right tackle Ja'Wuan James. His $52 million contract with Denver was the problem there.
Meanwhile, tanking does seem to be the rage in the NFL. The New York Giants, for example, either are the dumbest team around or have made a U-turn to tanking.
They traded the game's top receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. and a decent pass rusher in Olivier Vernon to Cleveland for a nondescript guard, safety, two draft picks and a lot of salary-cap money they aren't spending.
They have the remnants of Eli Manning at quarterback, too. Former league executive Michael Lombardi also said the scuttlebutt is the Giants won't be drafting a quarterback this year.
So book the Dolphins game at the Giants this fall as a potential Tank Bowl. Win and you lose. Lose and you win. See where this season is going with or without Bridgewater at the bridge?
The Bridgewater story has been a typical mess of misinformation, too. Teams couldn't meet with players until after Wednesday afternoon, so either you do business on the phone or wait. This meeting was scheduled even as it was being reported Bridgewater had turned down the Dolphins and was returning to New Orleans.
The question remains how badly the Dolphins want Bridgewater. The first reported offer was for two years and $10 million. Considering that's what the Dolphins just signed failing receiver DeVante Parker, that's not much for a starting quarterback (Parker and Bridgewater, of course, were teammates at Louisville).
Another quarterback possibility, Tyrod Taylor, signed as a backup with the Chargers. So there are no real options out there for anything but a losing quarterback, unless they keep Tannehill. Which they're saying they won't (so do him a favor and release him).
Also, if they up the offer to Bridgewater it could cost them a third-round pick to sign him. That's the compensatory pick they'd get for losing James if they don't sign a free agent to a comparable deal.
Compensatory picks, of course, are part of the new Dolphins blueprint. Losing in some form is, too. Signing Bridgewater won't change that by himself. That won't calm a certain segment of the Dolphins fan base who, after decades of losing, can't lose enough this year.
