American culture is quickly crumbling.
And so much of the behavior that’s destroying it is being promoted by public figures and institutions.
Now an NFL quarterback told players to stop doing one destructive thing.
Miami Dolphins backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wants to push an inspiring message to young kids.
The Miami, Florida native posted on Instagram about how professional athletes should stop pretending to be “gangsta” in their public image.
Bridgewater wrote on Instagram, “Tired of seeing football players portray this tough guy image or pretend he’s a gangsta. You went to school, attended those classes and some even got their college degree. Now you might have 1.5% of professional football players that’s on that but the remaining 98.5% are only ‘football tough.’”
Bridgewater is pointing out that gang culture is being promoted by people who are not participating in it.
They are selling a poisonous message to kids when that was not what made them rich and successful.
Bridgewater continued, “So don’t wait till you inherit this legal money from the league to decide you want to be tough or portray a ‘street image’ cause it’s kids that’s looking up to everything we do. Plus it’s someone sitting in a cell or posted in the hood who might’ve been just as hood as you that would advise you otherwise.”
Bridgewater wants to see more positive role models affirmed, not just the criminal lifestyle that has been glamorized in many ways over the past 30-plus years.
He concluded, “Kids don’t be fooled. You can play ball, do the right thing and they still gonna accept you. Look at me, I’m far from perfect but I chose the ball route but I still can go to the hood and post up and it’s all love. I still keep the same 3 dudes around me. My people accept me for making all the right decisions and not falling victim or being tricked by the false image you see on IG from a lot of ball players. Choose your path. Can’t do both though.”
This is precisely the type of message that other players should be promoting.
Bridgewater was raised in a tough part of Miami, but he stayed on the straight and narrow path, went to college at the University of Louisville, and became a first-round NFL draft pick.
He has since made $56 million in his nine-year NFL career.
That’s what can happen when players work hard and avoid the pitfalls of bad behavior that trap so many young people.
Bridgewater works in the community to help young kids, and he has previously posted similar inspirational messages on social media.
Hopefully more players adopt Bridgewater’s positive attitude.
That’s exactly what young kids need, not more negative stereotypes that are reinforced and perpetuated by players who emulated Bridgewater, but pretend they did not.