

Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) celebrates with fans after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats 31-24 at Nippert Stadium. / Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

Teddy Bridgewater's decision is a no-brainer only in the colloquial sense. Pragmatically, the brain is the best reason for the Louisville quarterback to take the money and turn pro.

As the language of football evolves, and the euphemistic phrase "had his bell rung" is replaced by more terrifying terminology, the harsh realities of America's favorite sport should remind its participants that their minds are fragile and a terrible thing to waste.

Bridgewater might still be the country's most coveted quarterback prospect a year from now were he to return for his senior season at Louisville. But with his diploma already in hand, with his draft stock screaming "sell," and with career-ending concussions becoming increasingly common in football, Bridgewater would be almost foolish to tempt fate.

Yes, he is insured against catastrophic injury. Yes, he might build his brand by making a more meaningful run at the Heisman Trophy. Yes, the NFL's Houston Texans are so lousy that they were forced to use a silent count last month at home because of booing directed at quarterback Matt Schaub.

Yet it's hard to get past the grim gridiron reality that college quarterbacks put themselves in harm's way on a regular basis without benefit of a salary; that they are prime targets for blindside battery and much more vulnerable than teammates who are better able to see contact coming.

How many hits are too many? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

University of Utah quarterback Travis Wilson's season ended after he sustained a concussion against Arizona State in November, and a pre-existing condition continues to cloud his return. University of Houston quarterback David Piland started 20 games for the Cougars and tossed 41 touchdown passes, but his college career ended abruptly after a September hit against Temple.

"You are in the hospital and you can't really see straight - can't really see anything," Piland told reporters after deciding he was done playing football. "You get up to go to the bathroom and you get sick just because you are moving."

The culture of football discourages players from openly discussing their injuries or admitting their fears, but the list of former quarterbacks now telling cautionary tales about concussions is long on luminaries.

The Dallas Cowboys cut Hall of Famer Troy Aikman at age 34 rather than pay him a $7 million bonus after 10 concussions. Knocked cold after being sandwiched between blitzing Arizona cornerbacks in 1999, Steve Young retired without taking another competitive snap. Brett Favre says he realized "something ain't right" when he was unable to recall seeing his daughter play soccer. Jim McMahon is dealing with dementia and admits to having contemplated suicide.

Despite the recent spike in injury-related lawsuits, football players generally accept the long-term risks of their profession as the price of their prosperity and prolonged adolescence. Still, that's a pretty high price to pay if you're not getting paid, particularly since the No. 1 selection in the 2014 NFL draft stands to sign a deal worth in excess of $22 million.

If it were only a matter of money, a quarterback might easily postpone his professional career to spend another season as the Big Arm On Campus. Generally regarded as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2014 draft, Oregon's Marcus Mariota has announced his intention to stay in school.

But Mariota has also requested a formal evaluation of his NFL draft prospects, and may still be susceptible to having his head turned by big bucks. The draft decisions of underclassmen do not become binding until Jan. 15.

As he does when searching for receivers, Teddy Bridgewater has been careful to avoid telegraphing his moves. He says he has not yet made a decision and has acknowledged selling points on both sides of the question.

Today, Bridgewater has a good head on his shoulders. The problem with playing quarterback is that you can't always count on tomorrow.

Sullivan also writes for the Courier-Journal in Louisville.

Copyright 2014

Read the original story: Column: Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater should go to NFL

Real Deals






sign up for home delivery today