Christian Ponder to share Vikings' first-team reps

[Purple bruise]

They will never get back this years salary, regardless if he is just traded or cut. The best we can hope for is a late round garbage pick and a fraction of his salary, otherwise he is sitting deactivated as our number 3 for most of the season.

Or the starting QB that with good coaching, being healthy, and getting a fresh start made all of the difference in his career. If not with the Vikes then with another team.

[Mothman]

But unless they planned to franchise him, his increased value would be of no value to the Vikings, only to whatever competitor signed him as a free agent, so what good is that?

The trade deadline probably isn't until late October so even if they hang on to him through the summer and into the season, if a team suffers injuries at QB and needs to pick up someone with experience who can help them win some games, he could still be traded during the season.

In the end, I don't think this news about first team reps has much, if anything, to do with making Ponder a more appealing trade option. Teams will look at 3 years of game film to determine what he's worth to them, not reports out of Vikings OTAs. I think it's more likely that the coaches are pushing competition and in the interest of staying on point with that message and keeping everybody motivated, the 3 QBs will all get their chance to play with the first team.

We're just talking about short mini-camps here. I imagine they will use those camps to establish a basic depth chart going into training camp and from there, competition will continue but a player listed as second or third on the depth chart will have to impress more to move up from that position.

[Just Me]

In the end, I don't think this news about first team reps has much, if anything, to do with making Ponder a more appealing trade option. Teams will look at 3 years of game film to determine what he's worth to them, not reports out of Vikings OTAs. I think it's more likely that the coaches are pushing competition and in the interest of staying on point with that message and keeping everybody motivated, the 3 QBs will all get their chance to play with the first team.

I think that sums it up best. There's nothing to see here. Move along.

[jackal]

At best a team might agree to give up a pick
Based on how much time he spends on the
field after year one or two for them. I think
there would be other free agents that would
be better than Ponder anyways??

[Ally]

I don't know where all this trade talk is coming from but I've always had the feeling that the Vikings haven't given up on Ponder. Spielman pretty much said during the pre-draft press conference that he doesn't think Ponder is a bust. He also acted like he didn't want to draft another QB. He said that he had to get a 3rd QB and that he didn't have to come from the draft. Obviously, they saw Teddy fall and decided to jump on the opportunity. Spielman didn't seem very thrilled with Teddy in the war room video - he just shrugged after calling in the pick. Spielman also mentioned that they declined Ponder's 5th year option so they could keep doors open. If they think Ponder can still be the starter and he gets hurt, then they would have to pay him for next year. By declining the option, they wouldn't owe him anything if he gets hurt. If he does start and plays well, then they can negotiate a new contract - probably one with less pay than the 5th year option. Just because they declined his 5th year option doesn't mean they are done with him. Another reason why I don't think they are done with Ponder is just by the way Spielman was defending him on ESPN last week. Of course, it will be Zimmer and Norv making the starting QB decisions and not Spielman but they haven't said a single thing against any of the QBs and they have actually said good things about all of them (even Ponder) so I have no idea which QB they like the best.

Personally, I think Ponder is going to do really well in Norv's system and I've heard that he's lost 2% body fat and increased his throwing torque by 40% (not sure what that means but when they said it on the NFL Network, it sounded good). Plus Coach Zimmer said that both veterans have improved since they started coaching them. Like I said in the other thread, I would not be surprised if Ponder is starting game 1.

[Demi]

Need that Baghdad Bob picture again. Some pretty bad propaganda floating around out there.

[Just Me]

Need that Baghdad Bob picture again. Some pretty bad propaganda floating around out there.

You mean this one?

[PurpleKoolaid]

Some posters stay up to all hours in hopes of finding an article like this. Makes me sick to my stomach. And it will likely go on all year.

[King James]

The writing on the wall for Ponder was the moment we drafted Bridgewater. And the suggestion that Spielman didn't look pleased about the pick of Teddy is inaccurate. Spielman always looks somewhat nonchalant after making a pic. He's just a calm and collect guy. Back to Ponder, I think he's done as a starter for us. If I recall the team had voluntary minicamps a couple of weeks before the draft. That being said Ponder and Cassel had plenty enough time to perform in front of the coaches. The Vikings still ended up drafting a QB in the 1st round. Which usually tells me that the coaching staff do not have confidence that these two players are long term starters for the team. Both Ponder and Cassel have had their fair share of chances, especially Cassel. Last year both QBs couldn't just stay consistent. It's time to move on.

[Eli]

The writing on the wall for Ponder was the moment we drafted Bridgewater.

Not when they signed Josh Freeman in the middle of the season? Or when Ponder was benched after recovering from his injury? Or when Matt Cassel was re-signed in the off season for two years with a significant pay raise?

Drafting Bridgewater or some other QB in this year's draft was a given.

[Purple bruise]

The writing on the wall for Ponder was the moment we drafted Bridgewater. And the suggestion that Spielman didn't look pleased about the pick of Teddy is inaccurate. Spielman always looks somewhat nonchalant after making a pic. He's just a calm and collect guy. Back to Ponder, I think he's done as a starter for us. If I recall the team had voluntary minicamps a couple of weeks before the draft. That being said Ponder and Cassel had plenty enough time to perform in front of the coaches. The Vikings still ended up drafting a QB in the 1st round. Which usually tells me that the coaching staff do not have confidence that these two players are long term starters for the team. Both Ponder and Cassel have had their fair share of chances, especially Cassel. Last year both QBs couldn't just stay consistent. It's time to move on.

Yeah that was total BS regarding Spielman not looking pleased when they drafted Bridgewater (where do people come up with this kind of crap)

[Eli]

And the suggestion that Spielman didn't look pleased about the pick of Teddy is inaccurate. Spielman always looks somewhat nonchalant after making a pic.

Because you've seen _how_ much video of Spielman during this or any other draft?

After picking Bridgewater, he looked like he had just put $20 on the Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year. "What the hell, it's only $20."

[Laserman]

doesn't bother me. Ponder will be Ponder and if new coaching can bring something great out of him then good. I believe Ponder simply doesn't have the " It " factor .

[Texas Vike]

Because you've seen _how_ much video of Spielman during this or any other draft?

After picking Bridgewater, he looked like he had just put $20 on the Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year. "What the hell, it's only $20."

What would you have him do? Jump around like a spazz giving awkward high fives to the Wilfs?

[Mothman]

Because you've seen _how_ much video of Spielman during this or any other draft?

After picking Bridgewater, he looked like he had just put $20 on the Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year. "What the hell, it's only $20."

... and you know what his body language signified because you've seen how much video of Spielman during this or any other draft?