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My question is that with another full camp, upgraded receivers, and high expectations from the owner, GM, Coaches, fans and many fellow teammates (even from J. Allen), is any player in the NFL under any more prerssure to succeed than Ponder?
I say no there is not.

Every time there's a mention of the Vikings in the national media now there's the line at the end that basically says "Ponder is running out of excuses". I wouldn't assume that this is really his last shot, though. He's Spielman's guy, and Rick thinks he's got this all mapped out and the numbers are in his favor. He'll make changes to the coaching staff in 2014 before he goes and finds a new starter.

Other QBs with lots of pressure to succeed? Vick and Freeman. Shaub and Ryan too, but I don't think those two are in danger of losing their jobs.

Lose his job? He might lose his starting spot on the roster, but he'll still have a job that pays an obscene amount of money.

I'd say that the hundreds of fringe players have infinitely more pressure on them than Ponder. Just to remain in or to gain a toehold in the NFL. Many of these guys came from nothing and have worked their butts off for a decade or more in the hopes of scoring a career in the NFL. If they don't make it, they go on to careers of being delivery drivers, club bouncers or insurance salesmen. If Ponder flails, he'll go on to a career as a backup QB making upwards of a million dollars per year for the next 12 to 15 years.

Pressure ... the coaches have already his backup he is not competing for his job...

Eli wrote:Lose his job? He might lose his starting spot on the roster, but he'll still have a job that pays an obscene amount of money.

I'd say that the hundreds of fringe players have infinitely more pressure on them than Ponder. Just to remain in or to gain a toehold in the NFL. Many of these guys came from nothing and have worked their butts off for a decade or more in the hopes of scoring a career in the NFL. If they don't make it, they go on to careers of being delivery drivers, club bouncers or insurance salesmen. If Ponder flails, he'll go on to a career as a backup QB making upwards of a million dollars per year for the next 12 to 15 years.

Wow that got turned around or I did not explain myself well enough?
I would imagine that a 6th round pick that is "pressured" to make a squad because he has a family to support, or a player coming back from a severe knee injury, who's career is threatened, would have a lot of pressure. This is not what I intended the topic to be about so maybe I could have done a better job explaining it. .
Yeah Ponder has already made lot's of money (more than we probably will) and would likely find employment as a back up on this or some team, got that. Is there any one player in the NFL with any more pressure to move to the next level, prove himself, lead his team, and fulfill and validate himself as a 12th pick in the draft? He is under the microscope and as we all know many here and there have already given up on him after having played for only 1.5 seasons.
I believe he will stand up to the prerssure and flourish.

I think Sanchez is under more pressure with the jets

Locker is under a lot as well

jackal wrote:I think Sanchez is under more pressure with the jets

Locker is under a lot as well

Good point, and since Sanchez was the 5th pick and Locker the 10th then you might well be right. That is the type of discussion I was looking for.

Only when he has the ball, which is most of the time, so yeah he'll probably see the most pressure haha, sorry I couldn't resist.

I think Locke is going to have some pressure, and maybe the guy who decided to dump Kluwe.

Reignman wrote:Only when he has the ball, which is most of the time, so yeah he'll probably see the most pressure haha, sorry I couldn't resist.

I think Locke is going to have some pressure, and maybe the guy who decided to dump Kluwe.

Really the guy that "dumped" Kluwe is even mentioned there with the most pressure

Mark Sanchez and Michael Vick have to be in more hot water than anybody right now. These guys will be kicked off the team if they dont get better. Ponder on the other I dont see under pressure. I can only see him under pressure if he blows a lot of games this season. Which I dont see happening because the staff have tried their best to build the offense around his strengths.

I'm sure there are lots of players under just as much, if not more, pressure than Ponder.

For that matter, Erin Henderson probably feels a great deal of pressure, given his position change and some of the doubt that he knows has been expressed about it. My only point being that players compete for jobs and they're probably all under some degree of pressure. Ponder knows that.

80 PurplePride 84 wrote: A new coach is gonna want his own QB though and not just settle for Ponder. Spielman always claims its a 3 year evaluation process. This is Ponder's make or break year.

My problem with this is it probably won't be very clear cut, in the sense that he is either super awesome or super bad. What if, for example, he gains a % or two in completion percentage (it was already decent) throws for 250-400 more yards (still low compared to guys like Brees, Rodgers, etc) a couple more touchdowns, same or slightly less INT's, the QB rating goes up 10-25 points. That's steady improvement so I wouldn't expect them to go in a different direction but again, it's not on Rodgers level.

I could easily see a case like that where we're still not sure completely, all signs still point upwards, but it's been 3 years and he's not Tom Brady yet so what then? Mean while the team is still winning 10+ games and making the playoffs so it'd be awfully hard to pull a change off.

mondry wrote: My problem with this is it probably won't be very clear cut, in the sense that he is either super awesome or super bad. What if, for example, he gains a % or two in completion percentage (it was already decent) throws for 250-400 more yards (still low compared to guys like Brees, Rodgers, etc) a couple more touchdowns, same or slightly less INT's, the QB rating goes up 10-25 points. That's steady improvement so I wouldn't expect them to go in a different direction but again, it's not on Rodgers level.

I could easily see a case like that where we're still not sure completely, all signs still point upwards, but it's been 3 years and he's not Tom Brady yet so what then? Mean while the team is still winning 10+ games and making the playoffs so it'd be awfully hard to pull a change off.

Good point. I think it's only a "make or break" year in the sense that a really bad season could "break" his career but if he shows sufficient progress to satisfy Spielman and Frazier that he's still on the right track, he'll keep his job and they'll continue developing him. I doubt he needs to join the top 10 or 15 QBs in the league statistically to remain the starter, especially if the Vikes are a winning team again.

Even if he never moves into Brady or Rodgers territory, he could still be well worth keeping. I think the important thing is for him to develop as a leader, minimize mistakes and be productive when the team needs him most. They don't need him to be a superstar and a fantasy football machine, just a championship QB.

Reignman wrote:Only when he has the ball, which is most of the time, so yeah he'll probably see the most pressure haha, sorry I couldn't resist.

I think Locke is going to have some pressure, and maybe the guy who decided to dump Kluwe.

How the hell did our ex-punter find his way into ANOTHER thread?

Good God, it's not even funny anymore.

J. Kapp 11 wrote: How the hell did our ex-punter find his way into ANOTHER thread?

Good God, it's not even funny anymore.

My feeling too, OMG will it never end