Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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The Panthers put Bridgewater through a pair of pregame warm-ups, with owner David Tepper, general manager Marty Hurney, Rhule, and what seemed like the entire offensive coaching staff and athletic training staff watching. While Bridgewater was cleared to play, Rhule said he thought his quarterback was at "80 to 85 percent" when he watched him move, so he elected to sit him down.
If he thinks Bridgewater was lobbying this week, he should brace himself for next Sunday when the Panthers play at Minnesota, and Bridgewater returns to the place where he started his career, and it nearly ended, with a traumatic left knee injury. Either way, Rhule said he wasn't trying to engage in any subterfuge when he was vague about Bridgewater's outlook.
"There was no coach-speak this week," Rhule said. "I know Teddy, and he told me at the beginning of the week he wanted to play. He prepared like a monster this week to get ready. We followed it all week this week. . . .
"I just felt like P.J. and Will (Grier) could go win the game for us, and I felt like for Teddy, to ask him not to play to his strengths would not be smart."