It looks like Teddy Bridgewater would rather be on the sidelines than on the field.
Bridgewater, 32, said he wishes that he were still coaching his high school football team over being in the NFL at this stage of the season.
“It’s very upsetting,” Bridgewater said this week, according to the Associated Press. “Just knowing that you have good intentions and those good intentions will be turned against you and used against you.”
Bridgewater signed with the Buccaneers as a backup quarterback after being suspended from Miami Northwestern High School for providing inappropriate benefits to his players, according to Florida high school officials.
The former Pro Bowler, however, insists that he was just assisting kids who needed help and hopes he can coach the team again in the future.
“I’m hoping to get it resolved because those kids have a special place in my heart,” Bridgewater said. “And I’d love to finish what I started with them.”
Despite being expected to make over $1 million this season for playing with Tampa Bay, Bridgewater said he liked his volunteer coaching position, explaining that it is not about the money for him.
“I can make a ton of money playing football,” Bridgewater added. “Coaching high school ball, I get nothing. But it’s not even about the money. It’s about giving those kids a building block to go out into the real world and be productive.”
The expenses that officials deemed “impermissible” included meal expenses, daily Uber rides and training camp, which Bridgewater said cost him $14,000 last year.
Upon being suspended, Bridgewater took to Facebook and maintained his innocence.
“Damn people done caused all this confusion. Got a phone call tonight and it’s no real investigation going on.. I told you I have to be an employee to be investigated. Now the paperwork thing still stands but there was no investigation… We SELF REPORTED,” Bridgewater wrote.
“Verne and his Admnistrative [sic] homeboys want me gone apparently and tried to hire one of my dawgs like bro wasn’t gone lace me up… The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you.
“So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem. This my last post about this bs.”
