Teddy Bridgewater makes strong comments about his high school suspension

Teddy Bridgewater returned to the NFL again this week when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the veteran quarterback spoke with reporters on Wednesday about the path that led him there.

Bridgewater was suspended last month from his position as the head football coach at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Fla., which is his alma mater. The disciplinary action came amid an investigation into him providing improper benefits to players.

The investigation seemed to stem from a social media post in which Bridgewater indicated he covered expenses for players that included $2,200 a week for pregame meals and $700 for Uber rides.

While speaking with reporters at training camp on Wednesday, Bridgewater was asked about the situation at Miami Northwestern. He expressed no remorse and said he treated the players as if he were their father.

“I’m protective. I’m a father first, before anything. When I decided to coach, those players became my sons,” Bridgewater said. “I wanted to make sure that I just protected them in the best way that I can. I think that’s what came about. … Sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home and different things like that, so I just tried to protect them and get them a ride home instead of them having to take those dangerous walks.”