Ponder has rib injury. Does this open the door...

[Reignman]

Suppposedly having bruised ribs is often times more painful than a straight up broken rib.

I don't doubt that at all. I broke an ankle once and sprained one once (different occasions). The sprain hurt more but the break obviously took much longer to heal.

Laughing at the conspirital tone of some in this thread.

Well you have to admit, the way it played out was kinda suspicious. Ponder isn't known as a "tough guy" and there were no signs the injury was bothering him during the game. And then we didn't hear about it until days later. He got his #### boo'd all day by the home crowd, so it wouldn't be surprising to use an injury to avoid a QB controversy. Cassel will have to play unbelievably bad to avoid a QB controversy now.

Hopefully Cassel gets a minimum of 3 games to prove himself before we inevitably go back to Ponder. That gives Ponder a month to heal.

[The Breeze]

Well you have to admit, the way it played out was kinda suspicious. Ponder isn't known as a "tough guy" and there were no signs the injury was bothering him during the game. And then we didn't hear about it until days later. He got his #### boo'd all day by the home crowd, so it wouldn't be surprising to use an injury to avoid a QB controversy. Cassel will have to play unbelievably bad to avoid a QB controversy now.

Hopefully Cassel gets a minimum of 3 games to prove himself before we inevitably go back to Ponder. That gives Ponder a month to heal.

yeah, I can see where it's coming from....but the funny thing to me is that the reality seems to be that Ponder is still Fraizer's guy. I don't think they are worried about controversy as much as they haven't actually decided to unplug Ponder. Hopefully Spielman has other ideas.

I have no idea about right or wrong here...just my feeling. And if they haven't decided, the bye creates a complication in Cassel getting starts, becuase it's conceicvable that Ponder would be ready for the Giants.

My preference would be that Ponder relax on the bench, he has talent and is smart. He might pan out as a franchise #2 guy. I think they've rushed his development from the getgo due to how badly they handled the stopgap with McRibb and such. He has sooo much to learn still. I would have Cassel on a real short leash...he's a career backup, going back to college, he knows the drill and has plenty of experience, if he can't come in and make noticable differences in the read/reaction dept. go to MBT. If Cassel looks good except for timing and such, keep in him going.

But I think it's all moot cause CP is still their (Fraizer) guy.... and it's frustrating.

[Demi]

yeah, I can see where it's coming from....but the funny thing to me is that the reality seems to be that Ponder is still Fraizer's guy. I don't think they are worried about controversy as much as they haven't actually decided to unplug Ponder. Hopefully Spielman has other ideas.

Or there's a giant mess going on behind the scenes. Spielman picked Ponder. How much input did Frazier even have? The entire time Ponder was painted as Spielman's guy. Spielman has control over 53 man roster, Frazier over the depth chart. Is Frazier too nice to go against Spielman and bench Ponder? Was this Frazier's way of being able to bench Ponder with a viable reason (even if it's not nearly as viable considering the situations around it?) without doing it to try and save his job while Ponder was still able to go?

Ponder was taking the 1st team snaps up until Thursday. Even with a broken rib he apparently can't play with? It's not a conspiracy. Something is going on, and it's not as simple as "he hurt his ribs and couldn't go"....

[The Breeze]

@ Demi

It is a mess. Sooo many conflicts of interest.

Cassel had some good luck today....but he was definitly more decisive with the ball. That 2nd TD to Jennings never would have left Ponder's hand.
If this was Fraizer manipulating the situation to bench Ponder, good on him.
But if the rumors about us wanting Freeman are true, I don't know what to think about it~

[Eli]

That 2nd TD to Jennings never would have left Ponder's hand.

So true. When they showed the replay angle from behind Cassel, I thought the same thing. That ball never would have been thrown.

[TheFoxInDetox]

My feeling...

Cassel could have a "Good Game." My 5 Point Criteria for that is as follows...

5 Sacks or Fewer
2 Turnovers or less
250 total yards or more, after sack yardage taken into consideration
2 Touchdowns or more
A Win

If Cassel does that, Ponder can't play again this season. The fans would scream bloody murder.

That looked like some pretty lofty criteria a few hours ago