Tag: High school

At least one of Teddy Bridgewater’s former teams won’t be signing him this season

Teddy Bridgewater has his eyes on an NFL comeback, but it doesn’t sound like one of his former teams is interested, at least not until after the 2024 season:

Former New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has his eyes on an NFL comeback after leading his Miami Northwestern High School alma mater to a state championship win, but one of his former teams won’t be signing him, at least before the 2024 season is over.

You’d think the hometown Miami Dolphins would be open to signing him given proximity, Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history and the spotty play of his backups, but head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t suggest anything is imminent when asked about it.

“He’s a young, spry 32,” McDaniel told reporters on Wednesday. “He has years in him. So we’ll see if the comedown stays consistent from his championship win. I support him doing whatever. He’s one of my favorites.”

McDaniel added that he and many of Bridgewater’s former teammates were watching Miami Northwestern’s title game after keeping tabs on them throughout the season, and while he’s a fan of the quarterback a change to the depth chart isn’t something on his mind.

“I’ve been preparing for the San Francisco 49ers. Outside of shooting a text of congratulations to him, it’s not his style to even enter into those conversations before the season’s over anyway just because he knows other guys are trying to do their jobs as well. But I’m sure we’ll connect when the season’s over, I’ll be very interested to see if he’s still in the same mindset,” McDaniel continued.

So while it sounds like there’s a chance for Bridgewater to return to the pros in Miami, that won’t be happening until after the Super Bowl in February, at least given where everyone currently stands. Bridgewater’s stated goal has been to join a team for the rest of the 2024 season (and potentially the playoffs) before returning to coach high school ball in February. Those timelines don’t line up. If the Dolphins aren’t interested in signing Bridgewater for the rest of the regular season, maybe another team he’s played for before like the Saints or Detroit Lions could be a better fit.

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Former Saints quarterback plans to make NFL return

Former Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater plans to make an NFL return, then head back to coach high school football in February:

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, now head coach of Miami Northwestern High School in Florida, has announced that he may be returning to the NFL in a playing capacity for a few months while he has availability from now until February when he returns to coach.

This news came live on The Insiders show from NFL Media, where Bridgewater said the following when asked about “Coach Teddy’s upcoming plans.”

“Coach Teddy, hopefully I mean, we’ll see how these next week and a half two weeks play out,” Bridgewater said. “Might be signing with a team or something, and then returning back to coach high school football in February. So, we’ll see.”

Then when asked if he is coming back to the NFL or going pro somewhere, he responded with, “That’s the plan man, my team know that’s the plan. We wanted to win a state championship, and then coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back February in the offseason, continue coaching high school football. So, we’ll see how it plays out.”

Ultimately the next few weeks will indicate where he signs next, and the likelihood of a playoff contender he knows well like the Detroit Lions being a landing spot for his return is speculatively possible. The Saints could use better depth at quarterback given Derek Carr’s injury, too. Regardless of where he goes next, Bridgewater will forever have a legacy with New Orleans.

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Former Saints QB’s high school team advances amid controversy

Former Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater coached his high school team to another playoff win, but he’s eyeing an NFL return amid an FHSAA investigation:

Teddy Bridgewater has the Miami Northwestern Bulls humming, with another dominant playoff win to their credit — and an advancement to the state semifinals in high school 3A competition coming up soon against Cypress Lake. But the former New Orleans Saints quarterback’s success in coaching high school ball hasn’t come without controversy.

For one thing, Bridgewater is publicly eyeing a return to the NFL. The new generation of quarterbacks isn’t inspiring much confidence and seasoned veterans with his experience could be in high demand this spring. If Bridgewater feels like he’s got unfinished business at the pro level he could bow out of the coaching ranks to go chase a Super Bowl ring if the right opportunity presents itself.

For another point, though? Miami Northwestern has come under investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association for allegedly using an ineligible player. Crosstown rival Miami Central forfeited nine games this season (including a win over Bridgewater’s team) for a similar offense. No judgment has been handed down yet, but that could end or invalidate Bridgewater’s season at his alma mater.

Bridgewater has expressed frustration at the drama and politicking that follows high school football before, and a situation like this could be disastrous. We’ll keep an eye out for developments and hope for the best for Bridgewater. He’s found success and new fans everywhere he’s played and coached, including New Orleans, and it would be a great story if he could take his high school team the distance in his first year as a coach. We’ll just have to wait and see if he can get there. For now, their next game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 29.

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A high school punter really threw underhanded on the sneakiest fake punt ever

This high school team discovered an awesome new fake punt.

Thomas Downey High School’s football team is undefeated to start the year. Now, the California school has quite the highlight reel special teams play to put at the top of its resume.

It’s so innovative that you shouldn’t be surprised to see it at the college and professional levels soon enough.

With Thomas Downey facing a fourth and 40 last week, it lined up from a standard punt formation, seemingly ready to surrender possession and dial back in for defense as usual. Instead, the team’s punter took the snap, moved a little bit forward, and threw an underhanded pass that made it appear as if he had punted the ball, throwing the opposition’s special teams unit for a loop.

Eventually, a player from Thomas Downey came down with a long catch of the “punt” in traffic, shocking everyone:

I must admit that on my first watch, I didn’t even understand what was happening. A lot was going on at once! That made me see it was very easy to confuse this underhanded pass for a punt. The motion is similar! Now imagine being a defender there in that moment. Phew.

Kudos to the Thomas Downey coaching staff and anyone else who helped come up with this brilliant fake punt idea. You literally may have just changed the game.

Darryn Peterson: ‘I feel like I’m the best player ever’

Treviso (Italy) played host to the adidas Eurocamp last week, where some of the world’s most promising basketball talents converged at Pallacanestro Treviso’s Palaverde gym. In attendance was five-star guard Darryn Peterson, who plays on the adidas …

Treviso (Italy) played host to the adidas Eurocamp last week, where some of the world’s most promising basketball talents converged at Pallacanestro Treviso’s Palaverde gym. In attendance was five-star guard Darryn Peterson, who plays on the adidas 3SSB circuit with Phenom United in Ohio and signed an NIL deal with adidas Basketball last year.

Currently ranked as the third-best high school player in the Class of 2025, Peterson has pro scouts already comparing him to Devin Booker. The 6-foot-5 guard sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his mental preparation, film he watches, his playing style, influences, recruitment and more.

Former Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater hired to coach his Miami high school team

Good for Teddy Bridgewater: the former New Orleans Saints quarterback has been hired to coach his Miami high school football team

Good for Teddy Bridgewater: the former New Orleans Saints quarterback has been hired to coach his Miami high school football team, per High School FN’s Andy Villamarzo. Bridgewater is retiring from the NFL after finishing his career on the Detroit Lions. Now he’s going back to Miami Northwestern Senior High.

Expect him to be a popular fit at his alma mater; 20 minutes away is Bunche Park, where he played youth football growing up, and where the field was named after him last summer. Bridgewater had previously announced his plans to retire and turn to  coaching after the 2023 season. That he gets to go home to South Florida and continue his football life is very cool to see.

Bridgewater earned his degree in Sports Administration at Louisville before turning pro, so this is something he’s been planning a long time. He’s been a fan-favorite everywhere he goes, including New Orleans, and he’s in a good position now to be a positive influence on the next generation.

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Wins are on Chris Olave’s mind in Year 2: ‘I’ve never lost that much in my life’

Wins are on Chris Olave’s mind in Year 2 after his rookie season didn’t go as planned: ‘I’ve never lost that much in my life’

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Chris Olave has a simple goal for his second year in the NFL: get back to winning games. The New Orleans Saints’ star receiver opened up about his tough rookie year on Richard Sherman’s podcast, sharing that he didn’t expect to suffer so many losses — it’s a new feeling for him after his teams found rare success in college and high school.

Sherman asked Olave for his goals in 2023, and he’s making it clear that he’s focused on team accomplishments.

“Man I’m just trying to win, man. Last year was tough for me. I’ve never lost that much in my life. That shit took a toll on me, I can’t,” Olave exhaled. “That don’t sit right with me. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself, help my teammates, help them be better, help us win and get to the playoffs.”

He’s not lying. Here’s how each of Olave’s teams performed previously:

  • 2015: 5-6 (Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif)
  • 2016: 7-5 (Mission Hills in San Marcos, Calif.)
  • 2017: 12-1 (Mission Hills in San Marcos, Calif.)
  • 2018: 13-1 (Ohio State)
  • 2019: 13-1 (Ohio State)
  • 2020: 7-1 (Ohio State)
  • 2021: 11-2 (Ohio State)
  • 2022: 7-10 (New Orleans)

So Olave joined the Saints having only lost 17 games since he began playing varsity football, only to suffer 10 losses in his first year as a pro. Olave’s team lost nearly as many games in 2022 as he saw in total from 2021 to 2016. He never lost double-digit games in a single season before. That’s a gut punch for someone who has only experienced success on the gridiron, so of course it’s going to leave him feeling restless. He’s putting that energy to good use.

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Former Alabama first round pick Jahmyr Gibbs set to have high school jersey retired

Former Alabama first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs set to have his high school number retired

Jahmyr Gibbs spent the first two years of his collegiate career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets where he was the first-team All-ACC running back in 2021. Gibbs transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2022 season as he wanted to play for a national championship contender. Improving his NFL draft stock was also another key factor in Gibbs’ decision to join the Tide.

Despite spending only one season with the Crimson Tide, Gibbs was sensational. In just 12 games with Alabama, Gibbs led the Tide’s ground attack with 151 carries for 926 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also the top option in Alabama’s receiving game as he led the way with 44 receptions that were good for 444 yards and three touchdowns. As if that wasn’t enough somehow, he was also a nice addition in the special teams game with 13 returns for 258 yards (23.9 YPA). Gibbs’ sensational 2022 campaign skyrocketed his draft status all he was eventually selected No. 12 overall by the Detroit Lions.

Long before Gibbs was an Alabama standout or an NFL first-round selection, he was a high school legend.

Gibbs played his high school ball for Dalton High School in Georgia. Gibbs was a top 50 recruit in the country and the No. 4 ranked RB in the 2020 recruiting cycle. He played in 32 varsity football games over three years and had 530 carries for 4882 yards and 70 touchdowns. However,  a remarkable senior season put Gibbs on the map with 233 carries for 2,554 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Dalton High School recently announced that they would be retiring Gibbs’s high school jersey number. Gibbs wore No. 1 for Dalton and will be the last player to ever do so.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton giving back to local high school coaches

“I’m standing here because of my high school coach,” Sean Payton said. Now he’s giving back to Colorado’s high school coaches.

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Last month, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton invited more than 150 coaches from Colorado high schools to attend a practice session during organized team activities.

Payton’s high school coach, the late JR Bishop, had a great impact on his life, and he wanted to relay that to local high school coaches who will be influencing Colorado’s next generation of football players.

“The best gift we could ever get as parents is when a teacher, a counselor, a music professor, a coach — when someone loves our child like we do, that’s powerful,” Payton said after practice on June 8. “You might have two or three difference-makers in your children’s lives. I know for a fact one of mine was my high school coach. I’m standing here because of my high school coach.

“I got a D on his English paper, and he benched me for the first half of a game. All the lessons [he gave]. [He] gave me confidence. I didn’t start till my senior year. These kids — when they’re freshmen, sophomores, or juniors, they’re on social media and there’s a lot going on. All of them want to conform. The message to those [coaches] really is you’re welcome here. We appreciate the job you do. I wanted them to hear my story. [My high school coach] is no longer alive, but he was one of those difference makers for a young kid from Naperville, Illinois.”

After playing quarterback in high school, Payton went on to play college football at Eastern Illinois. He later went on to play arena football and also spent time in Canada and Europe. Payton also had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears.

Payton switched from playing to coaching in 1988 and he now has a Coach of the Year award and Super Bowl victory on his resume. All of that might not have happened if not for Payton’s high school coach, JR Bishop. Payton now wants to give back to local coaches to help them influence kids the same way he was influenced in high school.

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Alabama basketball lands commitment from four-star PF, Jarin Stevenson

Nate Oats lands massive four-star commitment out of North Carolina

Nate Oats continues to add to an already loaded 2023 Alabama recruiting class by adding four-star power forward, Jarin Stevenson, from Pittsboro, NC. Stevenson is 6’10 and the No. 2 recruit out of North Carolina, so to steal him from right under UNC and Duke is a massive win for Oats and the Tide. Stevenson had recently taken visits to Georgetown, Missouri and Virginia, but ultimately, it was too hard to pass on what Alabama is building right now.

Stevenson is the fourth high school commitment Oats has landed alongside Sam Walters, Mouhamed Dioubate and Kris Parker, all of which are four-star and top 100 players in the class. The Tide also landed Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Aaron Estrada via the transfer portal to entirely revamp their roster.

The Tide will look entirely different in 2023-24 after replacing virtually the entire starting line-up including Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney as well as all three assistant coaches. However, Alabama fans should feel ecstatic with the work Oats has put in this offseason.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.