Vikings Message Board.Com

Reignman wrote:Careful Pb, my "ilk" is growing every time they allow Ponder to drop back and throw a pass. But "seem" to find fault? Are you kidding me? There's no seem about it, I find lots of fault when it comes to the Vikings. I'm sorry you're incapable of thinking for yourself. I'm not going to agree with everything they do. I'm not some sheep. I'm not a blindly drink the kool-aid kinda guy, and it makes me no less of a fan. But tell me Pb, take a look around the town you're currently in, does it look something like this ...



Now look in the mirror, do you see this ...

Dude you are one giant cynic that delights in pounding on your key board with all your negative posts not only about Ponder but almost every thing to do with the Vikings. Man read your posts, the sky is not falling and every thing does not suck. obtw I enjoyed looking at the picture in the mirror, one of your dates baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha

VikingPaul73 wrote:Mothman you have been conspicuously inconspicuous in this thread..... ....am curious to know your thoughts.

I am really hoping that his issues were just from personality conflicts with schiano. Maybe with more of a player's coach he can return to the promise he showed just a couple of years ago. Of course you don't exactly want to build around a QB who folds when he doesn't like his HC but hopefully he can at least help put a good product on the field while the Vikings continue their search for that elusive franchise QB......

I share your hope that the coaching in Tampa was the biggest reason Freeman regressed. Overall, my feelings about the move are that it's a good choice by Spielman. I have no idea if it will work out but it's become clear that Ponder isn't the solution they were hoping for and Freeman is a young, talented QB who has already had some genuine success in the NFL. He's worth a close look and I'm hopeful that he can become a long term solution for the Vikes. However, as I said in another thread, it's possible that what the Vikes really have at QB right now is 3 NFL backups and 0 starters. We'll find out!

Eli wrote:You think spending $2M for the chance to pick up a late 4th round draft choice is a no-brainer?

Brilliant.

Cmon Eli. Don't be this way. Sure, the money probably means something to the Wilfs. But to us as fans, if we have $2 million under the cap to spend to sign a player for the only purpose (which is definitely not this case, but for the purpose of argument) of getting an extra mid round draft choice - why the heck not? It doesn't benefit us next year to be more under the cap this year.

I share your hope that the coaching in Tampa was the biggest reason Freeman regressed.

Reusse pointed out the other day word was he was not just player/coach with Raheem. But they hung out, went out clubbing, and were friends.

When you have an immature player, it's easy to see how they'd react negatively to a drill instructor head coach. Who replaced a close friend. Frazier seems like an easy-going friendly laid back type of guy. And Freeman is playing for his next contract.

Still a worry that he's in the substance abuse program. late for meetings/team photo. And then his first interview with the team he gets stuck in traffic and is over an hour late from what heard.

Definitely don't think he's the long term future. But for the next few years if he's willing to renegotiate? We could definitely do worse. Including Ponder and Cassel...

80 PurplePride 84 wrote:The substance abused program is apparently because he used Ritalin instead of Adderall (his prescription) to treat his ADHD.

God forbid.

Tampa tried to smear his name a bunch over the last month

Why and where does one get Ritalin if one does not have a prescription for it?

80 PurplePride 84 wrote:The substance abused program is apparently because he used Ritalin instead of Adderall (his prescription) to treat his ADHD.

I found this statement by Freeman but it only confuses me more. How does one take Ritalin "by mistake"?

Let me be very clear. I have NEVER tested positive for any illegal drugs or related substances. Further, I have agreed to take, and have PASSED 46 NFL-regulated drug tests over the last year and a half.
Since the confidentiality of my medical status has been publicly violated, I am choosing to address this matter so that grossly erroneous assumptions about me do not persist. Like millions of Americans, I have ADHD and I have been prescribed and permitted to take medication to treat this condition for the entirety of my NFL career. Well over a year ago, I took a different medication for the same condition (Ritalin rather than Adderall) , and to assure everyone that the error was a one-time mistake, I agreed to be voluntarily tested in the “NFL Program”. Since that time, I have taken and passed all 46 drug tests I’ve been given, which test for every drug and banned substance imaginable. I agreed to allow such testing to be done at my workplace (team facility) because I spend all of my time there and I have nothing whatsoever to hide or be embarrassed about.
Unfortunately, it appears that some people who may have noticed the testing at my workplace have made hurtful and incorrect assumptions and chosen to disseminate inaccurate and very disturbing information. It is a shame that when times have gotten tough, people have chosen to attack the character of others, rather than supporting each other. I remain dedicated and focused to being the best quarterback I can be and to help a team win a championship.

Purple bruise wrote:Dude you are one giant cynic that delights in pounding on your key board with all your negative posts not only about Ponder but almost every thing to do with the Vikings. Man read your posts, the sky is not falling and every thing does not suck.

Lol dude, if that's what you think, then you're reading my posts all wrong. I forgive you though, it's hard to convey sarcasm over the internet with simple text. Some get it, some don't. But don't mistake reality with negativity, the Vikings are mess from top to bottom.

Purple bruise wrote:obtw I enjoyed looking at the picture in the mirror, one of your dates baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha

Haha, I think that's the first time you made me laugh. Well I gotta good chuckle outa the "doomsday" line awhile back too. I don't care what everyone else says about you, you do have a sense of humor in there somewhere.

Webbfann wrote:Why and where does one get Ritalin if one does not have a prescription for it?

Just a general curiosity or? Haha j/k, I'd like to get my hands on some too, I want to be as happy and positive as that Purple bruise guy xD.

OJVIKE wrote:http://nflspinzone.com/2013/10/10/lesli ... h-freeman/

Thanks for the link. Interesting, if not surprising, if true.

Here’s the quote from Shaun King provided by Joe Bucs Fan, “They tried to get Josh to sign a two-year deal. But Josh and his camp wanted to just stay with the rest of this season. Leslie Frazier, you know, won’t handle it like Greg Schiano did, but Leslie Frazier really wasn’t in favor of bringing Josh Freeman in. This was [general manager] Rick Spielman and the owner who overruled the head coach and said, ‘No. We’ve kind of figured out what Christian Ponder is. We want to see what Josh Freeman can bring this team.’”

Honestly this isn't that surprising to me, my guess is Frazier just felt loyal to Ponder and to a lesser extent Cassel. Bringing Freeman in forces Frazier to "give up" on Ponder which if he had his way he'd probably still be playing Ponder with his "he's our starting quarterback" nonsense. I'm glad we now have a system in place so we can over rule crap like that, imagine being stuck with Ponder for 16 games.

mondry wrote:Honestly this isn't that surprising to me

Me either. I meant it was interesting, but I wasn't surprised.

my guess is Frazier just felt loyal to Ponder and to a lesser extent Cassel. Bringing Freeman in forces Frazier to "give up" on Ponder which if he had his way he'd probably still be playing Ponder with his "he's our starting quarterback" nonsense. I'm glad we now have a system in place so we can over rule crap like that, imagine being stuck with Ponder for 16 games.

Given Frazier's demeanor, it makes sense he'd be pulling for Ponder and give him every chance (especially without a clear upgrade). Just look at the Robinson situation. Same deal.

Webbfann wrote:I found this statement by Freeman but it only confuses me more. How does one take Ritalin "by mistake"?

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May have grabbed the wrong bottle from a prior prescription of Ritalin. It happens.

dead_poet wrote: Me either. I meant it was interesting, but I wasn't surprised.
Given Frazier's demeanor, it makes sense he'd be pulling for Ponder and give him every chance (especially without a clear upgrade). Just look at the Robinson situation. Same deal.

It also makes sense because the organization's plan was clearly to develop Ponder. Their only win this season came with Cassel at the helm but despite Ponder's flaws and mistakes, they were in position to win 2 of the 3 games he started this year in the final minute and the defense gave up scores both times. As a coach with a defensive background, I'm guessing Frazier put at least as much responsibility for those losses on his defense as on his QB.

Anyway, it's all water under the proverbial bridge now.

So lets switch the focus from QB to Frasier. He has something of a history on this front:

Brought McNabb because he "believed" in him. Result was Failure.

Started Fusco over Schwartz, causing Schwartz to leave. Result: So far this year looking good, but not stellar.

Starting Robinson over Rhodes: Results so far are not good

Starting Mitchell over Bishop: I'll call this one a push mosly due to lack of info.

Starting Ponder: This one is probably not 100% settled (but has to be close), but you have to ask what they have seen in practice week in and week out.

I will gladly submit that the coaches/scouts/GM know a heck of a lot more about football than I do, but it seems obvious that there should be some kind of time table on wheb=n a guy is "learning" vs when he is just hurting the team. It also begs the question of whether they are helping or hurting the guy they are not playing while they wait for the "learner" to get it together.

I wonder if Bishop gives us a better group of LB that Mitchell, that is nebulous at this point. I can't fathom that Rhodes as starting CB would somehow make us worse that Robinson, the opposite seems likely. Also one has to ask if Everson's Griffith's playing time will factor into whether or not they resign the youngest of our 3 excellent pass rushers.