Bridgewater wins fan-vote rookie of the year; eager to play in Super Bowl someday

PHOENIX – Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said a trip to this year's Super Bowl has him excited about the possibilities of a future that he believes will include the Vikings' first Super Bowl since Jan. 9, 1977, 15 years before Bridgewater was born.

"I can envision it," Bridgewater said as he was making stops along Radio Row at the site of Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX. "That's the plan. This right here is what you play for. Not 7-9. No one is satisfied with a 7-9 season. The ultimate goal is to be on this stage and be here."

Bridgewater was in town mainly because he was one of five finalists for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year Award. The fans who did the voting made him a winner, Pepsi announced Friday night, over Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, Bengals running back Jeremy Hill and Bills receiver Sammy Watkins.

Bridgewater is also a candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, which is handed out Saturday night here at the league's awards show.

Bridgewater said being invited to the Super Bowl for a rookie of the year award was a "huge honor" when he considers how he fell from the projected No. 1 overall draft pick to No. 32 a year ago.

"When you look back to last year at this time there was all the scrutiny that I was under," he said. "It also speaks volumes about the support I have from the fans because they make all of this happen."

Bridgewater also talked about his offseason plans when it comes to furthering his development and the progress of the team's offense as well.

"I'm just going to study all of my mistakes and also the good plays that I made as well," said Bridgewater, whose 64.4 completion percentage was the third highest by a rookie in NFL history. "I'm working out in Florida. And we're going to try and get something going here in the near future where all of the receivers, the tight ends and me get together for some workouts."

Asked if that would take place down in Florida, Bridgewater smiled: "It's a secret. It may be Florida. It may be California, Texas, maybe Minnesota. It's a secret."

As his time on Radio Row inside the Phoenix Convention Center was winding down, he was asked if he enjoys that experience.

"It's fun getting my brand out there," Bridgewater said, "and walking the red carpets and smiling for the camera. But I'd rather be playing in the big game than partaking in the event."