Retirement has apparently afforded Super Bowl-champion coach Bill Parcells the chance to do a few more favors, including one for a former player of his, Abe Elam. That favor afforded former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater -- potentially the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Houston Texans -- to spend four hours with one of the game's greatest coaches.
"He's a really good kid," Parcells said. "I was highly impressed with him as a person. I enjoyed talking to him. As a person, I think he's first class. He asked me a lot of questions."
Elam, who spent seven NFL seasons playing for four clubs, including Parcells' 2006 Dallas Cowboys team, is mentoring incoming rookies. He asked Parcells to meet with Bridgewater in Palm Beach, Fla., because according to nydailynews.com, Bridgewater was unable to attend Elam's group session with other rookies. Parcells said he has also been doing some informal consulting with coaches and other NFL decision makers, including two meetings with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
Parcells speaks to Elam's rookie group, as well.
"Abe Elam is mentoring some of these kids just getting started," Parcells said. "I talked to them about what to expect in mini-camp, what coaches are looking for."
For Bridgewater, a few hours with a two-time Super Bowl-champion coach can't be anything but a positive resource not only prior to the draft, but especially after it. Expectations on Bridgewater figure to be high as a first-round pick, particularly if he lands with a team in immediate need of a starting quarterback.
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