Teddy Bridgewater and a sixth-round pick from the New York Jets for a third-round draft pick on Wednesday.While record-setting quarterback Drew Brees is entrenched as New Orleans’ starter Ryquell Armstead Jersey , the move signifies that Saints coach Sean Payton was not entirely comfortable with either veteran Tom Savage or second-year pro Taysom Hill serving as Brees’ backup.“We are very pleased to obtain a young player with quite a bit of playing experience in Teddy Bridgewater,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. “He’s a successful quarterback and we know he will be a great addition to our quarterback room.”The Saints have their sights set on Super Bowl contention after coming within one play of reaching the NFC title game last season.The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles demonstrated the importance of a solid backup quarterback in 2017, winning a championship after Nick Foles had to replace injured starter Carson Wentz.The trade brings more clarity to the Jets’ quarterback situation. It appears rookie Sam Darnold is the starter after being given every opportunity to win the job in a competition that included Bridgewater and incumbent Josh McCown.Darnold is 29 of 45 for 244 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the preseason and started the past two games, a strong signal that he would open the season under center when New York is at Detroit on Sept. 10.McCown has played just one series in the preseason and will likely serve as a mentor to Darnold and a spot starter for the Jets if the rookie falters.The No. 3 overall draft pick has impressed coach Todd Bowles and the rest of the staff with his veteran-like approach to game situations and his ability to quickly digest the playbook.Bridgewater arguably outplayed Darnold this summer, going 28 of 38 for 316 yards, two TDs and one interception.More than anything, though, he proved he’s healthy two years after a devastating knee injury that had many wondering if he’d ever walk again, let alone resume his football career.“In his time with us, Teddy was the consummate professional, a great teammate, and a tremendous leader Gardner Minshew II Jersey ,” Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said. “He worked diligently with our medical staff and made tremendous strides along the way. We wish him nothing but success in the future.”The 25-year-old Bridgewater, a former Louisville star and 2014 Minnesota first-round draft choice, has played in 20 NFL games with the Vikings, but only one in the past two seasons. He drew little interest from teams this past offseason. New York signed him to a one-year contract that only guaranteed a $500,000 signing bonus �? but included various performance-based incentives.During his short stint with the Jets, Bridgewater endeared himself to teammates and coaches because of his humble approach and determination to sustain his comeback.Bridgewater also brushed off trade rumors �? something he was constantly asked about as it became clearer that the Jets were leaning toward Darnold as the starter.“Right now, I’m living in the now, taking advantage of this opportunity that I have right now,” Bridgewater said Sunday when asked about trade chatter. “I said last week, I look forward to coming to work every day and being the best version of Teddy that I can be, the best teammate, the best player that I can be.”Meanwhile Christian Wilkins Jersey , the deal raises questions about Savage’s future with the Saints, even though his preseason numbers have been solid.He has completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2 percent) for 232 yards. He has not been intercepted, but also has not thrown a touchdown pass, and the Saints offense has moved the ball inconsistently with Savage under center.Hill, meanwhile, appears secure on the roster because he also plays on special teams and has been exceptional in kick coverage, often among the first to get to the returner and make the tackle.As a quarterback, he has demonstrated potential, if not reliability. He is 26 of 32 (81.3 percent) for 206 yards and one TD. He also has rushed 16 times for 130 yards and two TDs. However, he has been intercepted twice and has lost two fumbles.12<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:Top 10 Texas High School Quarterbacks Currently In the NFLStephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports | Stephen Lew JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — After repeatedly failing to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars turned to free agency.Maybe the new path will yield better results.Given the lack of sustained success between predecessors Byron Leftwich Michael Deiter Jersey , David Garrard, Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles, the bar is set pretty low for Nick Foles — even with a lucrative contract and a Super Bowl MVP trophy.The Jaguars officially agreed to terms with Foles on Wednesday , the official start of free agency and two days after the sides settled on contract terms. They released Bortles four hours later, parting ways with the third overall pick in the 2014 draft just 13 months after handing him a three-year, $58 million contract.Bortles was arguably the most ridiculed quarterback in the league in recent years. A number of players ripped him publicly, including Tennessee defensive end Jurrell Casey, Houston defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Seattle safety Earl Thomas and Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict.The NBC comedy “The Good Place” took it a step further by making Bortles a recurring joke during the show’s first three seasons. One of the main characters, Jason Mendoza, is an amateur disc jockey from Jacksonville and a huge Jaguars fan. Mendoza is portrayed as a nitwit, who loves Bortles.Jacksonville will save $4.5 million against the salary cap by cutting Bortles. He still will count $16.5 million against the cap in 2019.The extra cash will essentially go to Foles.A person with knowledge of the deal said it’s worth $88 million over four years and includes $50.125 million guaranteed. It could increase to $102 million with incentives Daniel Jones Jersey , the source said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side chose to disclose financial terms.Foles will be formally introduced at a news conference Thursday.The 30-year-old Foles went 6-2 in the regular season and 4-1 in the postseason in place of Philadelphia starter Carson Wentz the last two years. He earned 2018 Super Bowl MVP honors and became the league’s premier quarterback commodity on the market. Philadelphia opted not to use the franchise tag on Foles. He landed in Jacksonville, which had been the front-runner to get him for weeks.Bortles went 24-49 as a starter, throwing for 17,646 yards, with 103 touchdowns and 75 interceptions.He played turnover-free football in the 2017 postseason, helping the team reach the AFC championship game and showing enough growth that top executive Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell opted to sign Bortles to a new contract. The deal included $26.5 million guaranteed and left the Jaguars with little to spend in free agency.They released five veterans last week, including former Pro Bowl defenders Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson, to clear $30 million in salary cap space. A significant chunk of that cash will go to Foles.The Jaguars also re-signed guard A.J. Cann on Wednesday to a three-year, $15 million contract, preventing him from entering free agency.A third-round draft pick from South Carolina in 2015, Cann started 59 of 64 games over four seasons for the Jaguars. He should help provide some continuity and stability up front for Foles.Jacksonville will return four O-line starters — Cann, left tackle Cam Robinson Dexter Lawrence Jersey , guard Andrew Norwell and center Brandon Linder — as well as running back Leonard Fournette.The question now is whether Coughlin and Caldwell have enough talent around Foles to make a difference.Veteran Marqise Lee will return after missing all of last season with a knee injury, and fellow receiver Dede Westbrook showed some promise in his second year. But second-round draft pick DJ Chark and second-year pro Keelan Cole mostly struggled, and the Jags have few, if any, viable threats at tight end after deciding not to pick up a team option on Austin Seferian-Jenkins.Nonetheless, Foles should be an upgrade over Bortles. The Jaguars spent a combined $95 million on Leftwich (2003-07), Garrard (2002-10), Gabbert (2011-13) and Bortles (2014-18), and never saw much of a return on those investments at the NFL’s most important position.
The New Orleans Saints have agreed to acquire veteran quarterback
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