Teddy Bridgewater's stellar rookie season earned him the 2014 Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award and ramped up the expectations for the 2015 season.
During an interview to commemorate winning the award, which was voted on by fans, Bridgewater was asked what quarterback he'd most like his career to emulate.
"If I could be like any other quarterback that played in the National Football League, I would have to say Brett Favre is the guy," Bridgewater told the Pioneer Press. "Besides the injuries and the hits and everything, he had a pretty successful career. He's a Hall of Famer for sure, multiple Super Bowls, and that's something that I look forward to doing.
That last line was a zinger we certainly could hear coming from Favre.
Yet, it's Favre's on-field toughness and mentality that Bridgewater wants to imitate, not the off-the-field celebrity. In his heyday there was no bigger star that Favre, who to this day still commands attention from the football world whenever he speaks.
Despite being voted by fans for an award and giving the "Riders Up" call before the Kentucky Derby, Bridgewater says he doesn't want to be known as a celebrity.
"I hate to consider myself a celebrity," Bridgewater said. "I'm still a quarterback in the National Football League. I shy away from celebrity status because I don't want to be known as that guy. But I had a chance to partake in the events and the festivities of the Kentucky Derby, and that was a huge honor."
Bridgewater is ahead of Favre after one NFL season in terms of mere stats -- as the Ol' Gunslinger attempted just four passes with the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie. Bridgewater threw for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdown passes in his first year.
"You play the game to win, and that's why I'm in Minnesota," he added. "I want to win championships, and that's our goal."
While Bridgewater has leagues to go before he's even in Favre's realm, the young quarterback is in line for a jump in Year 2 in the Vikings' offense. (Spoiler Alert: I can assure you he will be on our Making The Leap list later this offseason.)
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