Teddy Bridgewater Wisely Takes Out $10 Million Insurance Policy

Teddy Bridgewater doesn't always play it safe on the field. He led the Big East in adjusted yards per passing attempt last season, in large part because he was willing to take risks in the deep third.

Off the field, however, the Louisville quarterback is far more circumspect. According to ESPN's Joe Schad, Bridgewater has taken out a $10 million insurance policy:

The policy protects Bridgewater in case of an injury, a smart move for any probable future millionaire whose life could turn upside down with one unlucky hit. It also indicates, as CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli points out, that this will be Bridgewater's last year at Louisville:

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Yeah, while that's a very smart move for Bridgewater to make, as it protects him in case something terrible happens, it's also a good indicator he doesn't plan to return to school next season. Athletes generally don't take out these kind of insurance policies unless they're planning to go pro in the near future.

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Louisville finished 11-2 last season under Bridgewater's command, including a 33-23 dismantling of Florida in the Sugar Bowl—a game not nearly as close as the final score indicated. In just his sophomore season, he finished the year with 3,718 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions, leading the now-defunct Big East with a 160.5 efficiency rating.

Now, Bridgewater is being hailed as a blue-chip NFL quarterback prospect, the kind 2013's draft lacked and 2012's draft had in record proportions. It's early in the scouting process, but B/R draft guru Matt Miller ranks him as the top eligible quarterback and a potential No. 2 overall pick.

Football is a cruel and fickle beast, one that takes just as quickly as it gives. With a potential NFL career as his family's premier fiscal commodity, a protective policy of this nature makes perfect sense going forward. 

Especially, as ESPN's David Pollack pointed out, behind that Louisville offensive line:

So long as he stays healthy, though, Bridgewater is set for a big payday in April. 

Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeighDAT