Eric Woodyard, ESPN
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Teddy Bridgewater is embracing exchange — no less than for now.
Because the veteran quarterback strolled off the Detroit Lions’ follow farmland then Wednesday’s joint follow in opposition to Jacksonville, he debuted his preseason jersey Negative. 50.
He jokingly informed ESPN that it was once impressed through The 50 Boyz from the Detroit-based “BMF” display, produced through Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. He plans to reserve Negative. 50 all through the preseason earlier than he has to create a call.
“Yeah, but it’s all good. 50,” Bridgewater stated. “I watched ‘BMF’ on Starz, The 50 Boyz. So, all that good stuff.”
It isn’t unusual for avid gamers to roll with random uniform numbers in preseason, like when New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones rocked Negative. 50 in coaching camp as a rookie in 2021.
All through the preseason, the NFL lets in avid gamers to choose no matter jersey numbers they would like from 0-99. However as soon as the season begins, the NFL rulebook enforces quarterbacks to choose numbers to be had from 0-19.
As a past due sovereign agent signing on Aug. 10, lots of the conventional quarterback numbers have been already taken all through the learning camp, with Negative. 7 being noticeable, however unavailable as it’s retired for Corridor of Famer Dutch Clark. So Bridgewater was once given 50.
Since Bridgewater entered the league in 2014 because the thirty second total pick out through the Minnesota Vikings, he has used Negative. 5 at each restrain, which integrated Pristine Orleans, Carolina, Denver and Miami. He additionally wore Negative. 5 on the College of Louisville. He stated he hasn’t performed in a distinct quantity since his juvenile years.
“Probably when I was like 13,” Bridgewater stated. “I was No. 7.”
Lions working again David Montgomery these days wears Negative. 5 for the Lions however is noticeable to a imaginable exchange, despite the fact that not anything is about in stone. Bernard Law Montgomery says they have got communicated a couple of attainable transfer.
All through Bernard Law Montgomery’s first 4 seasons in Chicago, he wore Negative. 32, however decided on Negative. 5 as a “start to something new.”
“We’re still trying to work through that. I’m trying my best to figure something out for him,” Bernard Law Montgomery stated. “I respect him a lot, that’s why I’m really trying to get it worked out for him because I know he’s had it his whole career.”
Lions receiver Marvin Jones Jr., in his 2d stint with Detroit, can relate to dressed in an strange quantity. Jones is about to change into the second one participant in franchise historical past to put on Negative. 0, becoming a member of Johnny Olszewski (1961) then rule adjustments this spring allowed that as an choice. His youngsters voted for him to select Negative. 0 and he unearths negative humor in Bridgewater’s latest quantity.
“It don’t look that funny because he’s out there throwing dimes,” Jones stated of Bridgewater. “He likes No. 5, so 5-0, I get it. It’s always good to see people wearing random numbers.”
Bridgewater admits that dressed in the Negative. 50 feels bizarre, however on the finish of the month, Negative. 5 will eternally be his favourite. “It’s all good. Whatever happens, happens, it’s just a number,” Bridgewater stated. “I’ll always be 5 back home.”
Negative. 5️⃣0️⃣ discovering his goal 🎯 pic.twitter.com/r57Y4bkxG7
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 16, 2023
