NFL QB Uses Madden to Learn Plays

To prepare for the upcoming NFL season, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is playing video games. After minicamp finished last week, Bridgewater didn't have a team to practice with in the real world, so he turned to video games, telling ESPN that he imported the Vikings' playbook into a Madden NFL game to help him get ready for his first season.

"It helps because you get one more rep than you had in practice, actual practice," Bridgewater said. "Any chance you get to take an extra rep or go the extra step, extra mile, it's going to be very beneficial transferring it to the field."

This isn't a change of pace for Bridgewater, as he did the same thing in college, adding the Louisville Cardinals' playbook to a recent NCAA Football game. According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, New Orleans QB Drew Brees also uses Madden to prepare for the real season.

In another sport, Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana says he's used MLB The Show to study hitters' patterns by playing as himself and going up against them, according to the ESPN report.

For Bridgewater, using Madden to prepare for the real thing isn't as outlandish as it may sound.

"I try to take as many reps as I can, whether it's on a video game, playing EA Madden football or in the playbook, just drawing it or just visualizing it in my head," he said. "I try to just maximize every rep I can get and every opportunity that I can take."

Of course, Bridgewater goes to the gym and practices with his teammates outside of the game, too.

The next entry in the Madden NFL series--Madden NFL 15--launches August 26 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. Controversial cornerback Richard Sherman is the game's cover star. Here's to hoping that he doesn't fall victim to the Madden Curse.