When the Vikings looked at quarterback Teddy Bridgewater during the scouting combine in February, the Pioneer Press reports a potential problem came up: an irregular heartbeat.
“I just had an abnormal heartbeat,” the Vikings’ newest quarterback said, according to the paper. “I think it was 1 percent, or one beat, less than the normal beat.”
When the Vikings brought the 21-year-old up to Minnesota for a private workout in April, they gave him an extra look to make sure things were OK – a physical and an EKG among the tests, Bridgewater said – and everything came back normal, USA Today reports.
#mnvikings coach Mike Zimmer on Bridgewater; reveals heart issue QB had in visit that turned into character statement http://t.co/sZkFypX5zc
— Brian Murphy (@murphmedia_) May 9, 2014
“I wasn’t aware of it,” Bridgewater said, according to the site. “It came up at the combine and I was freaking out about it. But I knew that once I got started and starting running on the treadmill, that my heart rate would be normal.”
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer spoke briefly about the concern after Minnesota took Bridgewater with the 32nd pick in the first round Thursday, the Star Tribune reports. Zimmer said it turned out to nothing, just “a blip or something”
After that exam, Zimmer reportedly asked Bridgewater how his heart was. The young quarterback’s response, according to Zimmer: “Well, they said it was too big.”
The Vikings took a long look at Bridgewater in April, following his reportedly shaky pro day performance.
That workout apparently sold the Vikings, USA Today reports. Especially offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
Norv Turner was the driving force behind Bridgewater with the #Vikings. He pounded the table for him and Spielman listened to his OC
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) May 9, 2014
General manager Rick Spielman called Bridgewater’s private workout “totally different” from the pro day, and said watching the youngster work with and adjust to Turner’s requests was “remarkable.” Zimmer, meanwhile, said he loves the fact that everywhere Bridgewater has played, he’s won games.
The fans at the Vikings’ Draft Party Thursday seemed to like the pick.
