Vikings Message Board.Com

Valhalla wrote:Good to know what a W was with Cassel, what was with the Vikings coming close to the records for least possession time in some of our games??

It starts with poor defense and turnovers. If the defense can't get off the field. The other team is going to either score a ton of points, dominate ToP, or both. Turnovers by the offense just exacerbate the problem.

Cassel's only 31, 32, compare that to Cunningham, Favre, Moon who all had good years with the Vikings.

... and were all much better QBs than Cassel.

I'm sure the Vikings will fess up and pay more than a backup salary to Cassel, Freeman got one million for only playing one game.

Slam dunk with Zimmer and Norv, Cassel will be back, they know football.

Which is one of the reasons he might not be back and Ponder and Freeman might not be back either. None of them are great options.

Valhalla wrote:Or Norv Turner could be a reason we see Cassel or even C & P come back.

That's also a possibility.

Per Cassel's age, that was the only thing being discussed not that he compared to Moon, Cunningham, Favre or McNabb, oh wait.

LOL!

All the same, I think we have had 3 seasons starting from square 1 where the QB was concerned.

I'm somewhat positive that now we have a coaching staff that will separate the wheat from the chaff, that will have a good idea of what to do.

Cassel also has had some good years, with KC and NE.

Yes, but they're getting pretty far back in the rear view mirror now.

The whole team often plays better when the QB is playing well, I'd look at that too in some of our so-so early defeats of the year. The defense may have had to spend more time on the field.

Eh... whether they did or didn't, it isn't an excuse for blowing leads in the final minute of play. The point is, if you look at each game as a whole, and look at all of the reasons for the team winning or losing those games, attributing wins or losses to one particular player just doesn't hold up under scrutiny. They lost games they could have won and won games they could have lost and the nature of most of those wins and losses was such that they could have gone either way without any difference at all in the level of QB play the Vikings received from Cassel or Ponder. If the team improves enough in other areas, they could conceivably win 9 or 10 games with either of those QBs as the starter, perhaps even with a rookie as the starter.

80 PurplePride 84 wrote: I think Freeman could be successful in Norv's offense if he gets his head on straight.

I hope we are. he is our best option right now, as scary as that is, he could be either sink or swim.

1 step closer to Ponder being the starter next year...my nightmare continues.

80 PurplePride 84 wrote: I think Freeman could be successful in Norv's offense if he gets his head on straight.

... and if get his feet and throwing mechanics straight.

Big "ifs"...

Hmm, that puts us in a bit of a rough spot. Once again we're in a position where Ponder is literally the only QB under contract going into next year. For a veteran I'd try and see if we could get Shaun Hill from the Lions to solidify the backup spot again. None of these names on the FA market strike me as guys I'd want to start. Seems like our draft pick, whoever he might be, will be thrown to the wolves from the get go, baring a trade for a starting caliber QB.

It's surprising how a good quarterback, pocket presence, good rifle arm, hits receivers in stride, and most importantly, makes receivers feel and happy and productive, is allowed a bad game in a Viking's uniform. Cassel barely got a chance with last year's coaches. Luckily the greats never have bad games or lose, like Manning. Yep, throw all 3 bums out, and get new blood, whatever it takes. Go Vikes!

Addendum: Don't forget, the Vikes and Cassel were robbed in Baltimore.

...wisdom ? Maybe not...

I feel like the guy with most upside is Freeman. It just stinks that he was allegedly a head case last year

I tend to think Cassel is just maneuvering for a better deal and seeing what's out there. Unless there's an option I don't know about they'd be fools to let him get away. And its unlikely he'd go somewhere with a more promising receiver corp.

I heard an analysis on KFAN I agree with:

1.) Cassell is likely to get asked to start next year if he is on the Vikings. This depends on whom they draft, but right now that is the case.

2.) Cassell is getting paid backup QB money

3.) All NFL players know their time in the NFL is short, so you take the shot to make the biggest $$$

IMO, it all adds up to Cassell voiding his contract. Why wouldn't he?

I think Cassell probably feels as we do that the best place for him to start is in MN given our WR corps. However, per item #2, that still equals voiding the contract and saying PAY ME starter money.

ABBP... please, anybody but Ponder.

mansquatch wrote:IMO, it all adds up to Cassell voiding his contract. Why wouldn't he?

It all depends on what he gauges his market value to be. If another team pays him more than the $3.7M he can earn in Minnesota next year, then it will probably be because they want him to be their starter. Meanwhile, nothing is certain about the future of the position in Minnesota. But if the market isn't there, he'll still get a pretty nice paycheck and will be the favorite to start in 2014.

With Cassel opting out of his contract, i suspect the vikings are willing to give Freeman a fair shot of competing for the starting job. By far Freeman is the best Qb on the vikings roster, and he could blossom under Norv Turner. I could be wrong, but I'm hoping this happens.

A.D_blazing wrote:With Cassel opting out of his contract, i suspect the vikings are willing to give Freeman a fair shot of competing for the starting job. By far Freeman is the best Qb on the vikings roster, and he could blossom under Norv Turner. I could be wrong, but I'm hoping this happens.

Freeman, like Cassel, will be a free agent. He was only signed for the duration of last season.

I do sincerely hope the starting QB spot is a full-blown competition between whatever QBs we have on the roster, but I'm shocked how many people think Freeman is the best quarterback option the Vikes have.

He may be the most physically gifted and he may have the most potential, but no way does that make him our best QB option.

If he's our starter next year, it will be a gamble of ridiculous proportions. But if it comes to that, I'll cross my fingers, pray that our new regime knows what it's doing, and root for my team just like I always have.