Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater set or tied a total of 91 franchise records during his rookie season last year.
Bridgewater tied team records for starts (12), wins (6), completion percentage (64.4) and passer rating (85.2) by a rookie.
His completion percentage was the third-highest, and his passer rating was seventh-highest among qualifying first year players in NFL history.
Bridgewater was also the NFL’s Pepsi Rookie of the Year, which was voted on by the fans.
On the season, Bridgewater finished with 2,919 yards and 14 touchdown passes compared to 12 interceptions.
NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal said last week that looking back at last year’s draft, Bridgewater should have been the first quarterback off the board, instead of going in the last pick of the first round to the Vikings.
“Bridgewater’s five-game closing December sprint was often brilliant and showed his floor as a mid-range NFL starter like Alex Smith or Andy Dalton. Teddy’s arm strength and deep ball accuracy are open questions that could limit his ceiling, but Bridgewater is off to a great start. He has the potential to develop into an upper-echelon distributor in the mold of Drew Brees.”
"We know that last year wasn't good enough." – @teddyb_h2o
WATCH: http://t.co/C23E1wUXWk pic.twitter.com/RfzX3VtQLq
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 27, 2015
Despite the accolades, honors, accomplishments and stats, Bridgewater told reporters Monday that last year wasn’t good enough.
“I left a lot of plays on the field last year, but I’m always trying to get better,” Bridgewater said. “I appreciate people saying I had a good rookie season, but if I play at that same level this year, we’ll be 7-9 again, and that’s not good enough.”
The Vikings wanted Bridgewater to bulk up and get stronger heading into his second season.
According to 1500 ESPN, he worked with strength and conditioning coach Evan Marcus and assistants Jeff Hurd and Chaz Mahle to put together a weightlifting program in the offseason.
Bridgewater wasn’t divulging his weight on Monday, but it must have gone well.
“They were pretty impressed with the way I returned,” Bridgewater said. “I’ll see how much bigger and stronger I am once the OTAs are over.”
