What's your initial feeling on the Vikings signing Freeman?

[Just Me]

Worse-case, Freeman performs well enough for the Vikings to pass on an early-round franchise signal-caller but continues the history of mediocre stopgap QBs that has plagued this team for decades, gives teams no reason for pause and sets us back another 2-5 years.

This, of course, assumes the Vikings will not address the QB position if Freeman plays well. And in any case, I disagree. The worst case scenario would be for the Vikings not to address the situation at all and give Ponder another year to "prove himself." What are their other options at this point to address the QB postition (if we assume they know Ponder is done and the Vikes need to go in another direction)? The only other option I can see is make MBT the "immediate starter" to figure out if he's got the goods to be the legitimate starter. I'm not sure that is better than giving Freeman a (long)shot at being the guy. Thoughts?

[Mothman]

My initial reaction is to wait and see what the Vikings plan to do here. I think they've almost certainly upgraded their QB depth chart for the remainder of the season. Based on what I've seen of MBT in preseason games, Ponder/Cassel/Freeman should be a better trio of QBs than Ponder/Cassel/MBT.

I don't see this as a mess, at least nota bigger mess that was already. I see the Vikings seizing an opportunity to grab a player who may be able to help them. I'm not going to assume their plans, I'll just wait and see what they do from here. This move could mean the Ponder experiment is over, the team sees Cassel purely as a backup and they want to get Freeman into the lineup as soon as they can get him up speed and see how he performs during the remainder of the season. It could also mean Ponder's injury is worse than they thought and adding Freeman gives them a better backup if Cassel goes down. It could mean something else too. Maybe this is a move to light a fire under Ponder and signal this is his last chance to seize the job and keep it.

I think the first explanation is the most likely but as I said, I'm going to wait and see how this plays out. Since practically nobody sees Ponder or Cassel as long term solutions at this point, I don't see much reason to be angry or upset about the move. My guess is the Vikes now have 3 NFL backups at QB and not one starter but we'll see how it plays out.

[Mothman]

Here's an interesting take from Ben Goessling:

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... -on-notice

As much rope as the Vikings have tried to give Ponder, as strongly as they have supported him through his struggles, they've got too much on the line to go on like that without giving themselves options. Coach Leslie Frazier needs to produce enough wins to get a contract extension and keep his job. Running back Adrian Peterson is 28 years old, and might not have more than a couple years left at his peak. And if general manager Rick Spielman missed on Ponder with the 12th pick in the 2011 draft, he needs to act swiftly and limit the damage before deciding how the Vikings will move forward at the position, whether that's with Ponder, Freeman, Cassel or someone else.

Freeman, like Cassel, turned in an impressive 2010 season before his play slipped and things soured with his old team. He has been turnover-prone in every season but 2010, and he might not be with the Vikings longer than the rest of this season. His peaks in the NFL have been higher than Ponder's, though, and he flashed his big arm by throwing for three touchdowns in a Thursday night game at the Metrodome last October. He is far from a perfect option for the Vikings, but he's an intriguing one.

And at this point, that's all the Vikings have at the quarterback position: options. They don't have a bona-fide starter, or even a quarterback they can unequivocally say will be on their roster next year. There is no commitment to Freeman yet, and Cassel -- who might have reason to be irked after leading the Vikings to their first win of the season a week ago in London -- doesn't have anything promised to him, either.

In the end, this is about Ponder and the cushion he no longer enjoys. He now has to show he's healthy and a better option than a quarterback with a Pro Bowl appearance and another with a 4,000-yard season. He has had a knack for playing his best football when he has the most to prove, and if he can do that now, maybe he'll redeem the Vikings' decision to pick him so high in 2011.

But if the Vikings' decision to sign Freeman signaled anything, it's that Ponder's days with the benefit of the doubt are just about over.

[TheFoxInDetox]

Just thinking out loud. but what if the plan (in light of Ponder's injury) is to have Cassel be the starter and Freeman is the back-up?

Teams don't sign back up QB's to 3/4 of a year, $3 million dollar contracts.

Think about it. If they stick with Cassel (or Ponder for that matter) and lose the next 2 games, this season is over. It would make no sense to allow Cassel or Ponder to flush the season down the toilet and then pay a guy $3 million dollars to come in and mop up for a half a season.

They brought Josh in to start and I believe that if he can figure things out he will be on the field this weekend and for the rest of the season. If he crashes and burns we do what we planned to do all along, draft the best QB available. If he shines, we focus on D early in the draft and grab a project QB in the mid rounds.

[dead_poet]

My guess is the Vikes now have 3 NFL backups at QB and not one starter

This is where my frustration rests. And I still think it won't matter unless the defense gets its act together.

[mansquatch]

My take is that this is a desparation move. They think they have a playoff caliber roster if they can get a QB in place. I agree with Poet's take in this regard, unless the secondary improves in a hurry, it won't matter who starts.

The only way this move make sens is if they truly think Freeman has the ability to be a Franchise QB. I think the stuff on Spielman liking Freeman coming out of college has a lot to do with this. The big question is why they think they can bring Freeman back to his sophmore season form? If they can then this is an awesome move. If they can't then it just looks silly, what does Freeman add that Cassel doesn't already more or less provide?

Overall I guess it isn't that big of a deal to me. Freeman didn't cost us any draft picks.

Never a dull moment as a Viking Fan...

[Mothman]

This is where my frustration rests. And I still think it won't matter unless the defense gets its act together.

You're absolutely right about that. I'm very concerned about the present and future of the defense. I don't know what sort of vision Spielman has for it beyond this season but wow, the whole situation on that side of the ball is pretty scary.

I truly am in "wait and see" mode on this Freeman move. I'm not excited and I'm not upset, just interested. I find this part pf Goessling's take particularly intriguing:

In the end, this is about Ponder and the cushion he no longer enjoys. He now has to show he's healthy and a better option than a quarterback with a Pro Bowl appearance and another with a 4,000-yard season. He has had a knack for playing his best football when he has the most to prove, and if he can do that now, maybe he'll redeem the Vikings' decision to pick him so high in 2011.

[dead_poet]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#Vikings QBs starting records --
Cassel: 30-33 [.476]
Ponder: 12-17 [.412]
Freeman: 24-35 [.407]

[dead_poet]

Pelissero makes a good point. I would be a bit more okay with the Freeman signing if we're able to get something for Cassel. Maybe. Of course, it'd be weird to sign away the only QB to win a game for the Vikings this season.

If I'm Matt Cassel, I'm not so sure I don't ask to be traded or released now. I mean, look around. He can't go play in Buffalo or something?

[Hunter Morrow]

It feels like our team had 3 back ups on it and then got another back up.

Is Freeman even better than Cassel?

I take it that this is waving the white flag on 12-17 Christian Ponder, then.
He could be 3rd on the depth chart.

[dead_poet]

I think some of you are mistaking this move as a win-now situation. We already made our win-now move and that was starting Cassel. But Freeman is a total long-term move.

Explain to me how a guy on a one-year deal (actually, a 12-game deal) is a long-term move.

And as for someone saying QB isn't the problem right now and the defense is the problem right now, while you are correct, Freeman wasn't brought it to fix the Vikings October problems.

Debatable.

They brought in young man Freeman to be the guy Ponder was supposed to be, and I think that's why Spielman wanted 2-years, knowing that Freeman will need time to practice and learn the offense and would rather start him later than sooner. As it is, they'll need to rush things a bit as this will almost be a one-season audition for Freeman to show he can be the guy between now and the 2014 draft. I think the Vikings will take a QB no matter what, but Freeman's performance will likely determine what round we draft him in.

Which is a big gamble, IMO.

I still think that with Ponder signed reasonably cheap for next season ($1.7 million), he'll be competing with a rookie draft pick for the starting gig.

[Just Me]

Teams don't sign back up QB's to 3/4 of a year, $3 million dollar contracts.

Not in perpetuity, no. But if other teams are also interested in bidding for his services, they might have to give that much for a quarterback who might advance to the job of "starter" next year. My thoughts aren't that Freeman is the #2 forever, it that he will be the back-up for the next several games until he can learn the offense.

Think about it. If they stick with Cassel (or Ponder for that matter) and lose the next 2 games, this season is over. It would make no sense to allow Cassel or Ponder to flush the season down the toilet and then pay a guy $3 million dollars to come in and mop up for a half a season.

I concur. Since Cassel is 1-0 as a starter, Ponder is likely out with an injury (the length of time TBD) then why would you bring in a talent that has performed worse than Ponder (who is 0-3 also) and replace the one QB of the 3 that actually has a win under his belt (and has more familiarity with the offense, to boot.). So how did we come to the conclusion that staying with Cassel as the starter is "flushing the season down the toilet?"

They brought Josh in to start and I believe that if he can figure things out he will be on the field this weekend and for the rest of the season. If he crashes and burns we do what we planned to do all along, draft the best QB available. If he shines, we focus on D early in the draft and grab a project QB in the mid rounds.

I agree. I think they brought him in to start eventually. I'm just not sure why you would "bench" the only QB that has a victory for a very new QB. Not saying that Freeman won't even be the starter before the season is over, but I'm just not seeing it as a wise move for next week, especially to replace a QB that just posted a 123.4 passer rating in his last game. Granted, I think Cassel won't be able to maintain that performance, but why wouldn't you give him the chance?

[Mothman]

Here's another way to look at this:

Last season, at this time, the Vikings QB depth chart read:

Ponder/Webb/MBT

Now it reads:

Ponder/Cassel/Freeman

The order may be wrong but I think that's clearly an upgrade, at least in terms of NFL wins and experience at the QB position. YMMV.

[losperros]

The situation at QB obviously remains one of desperation, and desperation drives inexplicable moves. Vikes are already in hock for #12 1st round money for Ponder, paid Cassel good money to be the backup/arguable starter, and now $3 mill for Freeman. I guess Spielman figures he throws enough guys in there something has to stick.

I suppose there is always the off chance Freeman might just have been in a bad spot down there with the Bucs. The guy obviously has talent, but most guys hitting their 5th year in the league are entering their primes, and those with talent who have other issues (e.g. Jay Cutler when he was with the Broncos) usually demand some serious compensation to the team getting rid of the problem child. The fact Freeman had no takers in trade speaks volumes about how he is perceived around the league.

Sources say Spielman offered 2 years and Freeman wanted one. All I can say is thank goodness Freeman prevailed, because at least now Spielman will have to deal with the situation at QB this offseason. No more waiting around and hoping this guy or that guy becomes the answer.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, Edward. I don't know. Maybe I'm seeing this incorrectly but I'm glad Spielman and the Vikings aggressively took action. I don't think the one year contract puts the team in much danger and I don't see other QB options out there right now.

I don't know who will be the QB for the Vikings next year. And I sure won't make any claims that it will be Freeman. Maybe he can at least help this season.

Regarding teams not wanting to trade for Freeman, why should they? According to ESPN, the feud was so hostile between Freeman and Greg Schiano that everyone and his brother knew Freeman was going to get kicked off the Bucs team. That meant negotiating with Freeman without making a trade. And there certainly were teams that wanted to sign him.

[mansquatch]

I think the Viking's view of this was they could take a hail mary flyer on Freeman and it only costs them $8MM. If he stinks it up, they don't resign him and they are back to where they were at the start of this season. If he hits, then they draft for a different position and enjoy their franchise QB.

The risk, IMO, is that the roster, especially on offense, is pretty talented. (bad QB play, still top 5 in scoring...) So maybe they miss the playoffs but go 6-10 or 7-9 with Freeman. Freeman is average to below average, AKA not the answer, but they end up drafting high single digits or low double digits and end up on the back end of the likely run on QBs.