dead_poet wrote:We're on the same page here, save for the Ponder prediction. He's the only QB that's under contract in 2014 (I think MBT is a exclusive rights free agent and Cassel has a "player option"). Spielman won't cut Ponder and go into the season with MBT as the only QB. Ponder will represent an inexpensive safety blanket for whatever rookie they draft, leading to a "competition" that hopefully the rookie wins easily and never looks back. The other possibility is that Cassel will exercise his option with the hope he can win a three-way QB competition.
The more I think about this, the messier it gets.
I don't know. It doesn't seem that much messier than it was a few days ago. The contracts of Ponder and Cassel remain unchanged. The latter can still opt out after this season and the former is still under contract. If Freeman starts and is successful, he'll have motivation to stay and maybe they can come to a deal. That won't preclude drafting and developing a QB and any of the current group of QBs could serve as a possible bridge to a newly-drafted option.
As I said earlier, if you compare the depth chart at this position a year ago to the depth chart now, I think it looks considerably better now. That's nothing but good. The Vikes have to navigate through this season but presumably, they discussed their plans for that before signing Freeman.
Crax wrote:Carolina and NY are both winnable games with Cassel. As long as Cassel is winning, I think he may stay the starter. As soon as they lose though, it'll be interesting to see where they go.
I envision Carolina having a very good day against Matt Cassel. Their defense is legit.
The Giants, on the other hand...it could be a shootout (as weird as that is to type). Both awful defenses. NYG has no running game but Eli can (sometimes, not so much this year) be lethal. Randle-Nicks-Cruz will tear up our DBs if Eli gets time to throw.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
This signing only makes sense if you plan to play Freeman. He gets back in the league quickly and can go into the free agency market after the season, the Vikings give him a half-season tryout and if he plays well, they hope he re-signs with them because they wanted him after that disaster in Tampa. But if the money isn't there, he moves on.
The great news is that It seems Spielman is willing to acknowledge that the QB situation needed to be addressed, and didn't remain stubborn on his high draft choice Ponder.
Someone earlier lamented about not addressing pressing needs on defense. This Freeman thing is obviously a situational opportunity. It just came up, and the Vikings acted. What can they do about the defense in he midst of the season? It's not like teams are just releasing 25-year-old players left and right. I'm sure they are watching the wires for potential DBS to sign (or linebackers too), just as the other 31 teams are doing.
I think the organization has come to the conclusion that Ponder isn't the guy. They signed Freeman to see if he could potentially be the new starter. The G.M. will decide after the season and act accordingly. My Giants are 0-5. Maybe you guys can offer 2 1st round picks and Jarrod Allen for Eli. What say Mothman?? He's only 32. Worked once with Francis in 1972.
S197 wrote:I disagree with this being a long-term move, it's a last ditch save THIS season effort. Just look at the contract. Despite the Vikings record, they're only a game and a half out of 1st and they get to play Chicago and Detroit at home. Their losing margin is slim, two coming on last minute TD's. If Spielman and Frazier are smart, they stash Ponder away for 4-5 weeks to "heal" and let Cassel and Freeman battle it out. It won't take Freeman long to learn the 4x6 index card Musgrave calls a play sheet. By the time Ponder is ready, they'll know if the season is salvageable and maybe if they have a potential QB for next year. If Freeman or Cassel play well during Ponder's time out, it'll be enough ammo to bench him rather than Cassel beating a winless team as the only evidence.
The bottom line is Frazier and his staff will be out of jobs at the end of the year if the Vikings keep losing and Spielman is giving him the best shot possible (in terms of a in-season move) to keep his job. Worse case scenario is if Freeman has another one hit wonder year and we extend him leaving us back in the perpetual merry-go-round of quarterbacks. But I think this scenario is unlikely, we'll find out if Freeman can be back to his 4,000 yard season or continue on as his lazy, ball turnover self.
I disagree a ton. They aren't trying to only save this season. They are trying to bring in a QB who has been more or less "elite" for more than one season. Drafting a QB to develop KILLS AD's prime years. So you either draft a "hopeful franchise QB" and trade AD, or you bring in someone like Freeman who has experience and has proven to play at a high level while AD is in his prime.
Tark10 wrote:I think the organization has come to the conclusion that Ponder isn't the guy. They signed Freeman to see if he could potentially be the new starter. The G.M. will decide after the season and act accordingly. My Giants are 0-5. Maybe you guys can offer 2 1st round picks and Jarrod Allen for Eli. What say Mothman?? He's only 32. Worked once with Francis in 1972.
lol, no offense but eli's value isn't even close to that high. I'd do Jared and a 3rd rounder though.
Tark10 wrote:I think the organization has come to the conclusion that Ponder isn't the guy. They signed Freeman to see if he could potentially be the new starter. The G.M. will decide after the season and act accordingly. My Giants are 0-5. Maybe you guys can offer 2 1st round picks and Jarrod Allen for Eli. What say Mothman?? He's only 32. Worked once with Francis in 1972.
I think it's an unlikely scenario but at the moment, Eli might like the idea. It's been a rough start for the Giants.
Last edited by Mothman on Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
yezzir wrote:
I disagree a ton. They aren't trying to only save this season. They are trying to bring in a QB who has been more or less "elite" for more than one season. Drafting a QB to develop KILLS AD's prime years. So you either draft a "hopeful franchise QB" and trade AD, or you bring in someone like Freeman who has experience and has proven to play at a high level while AD is in his prime.
It's a good move.
Unless that rookie comes in and has an immediate impact (a la Russel Wilson), and plays at a higher level than a Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel or Josh Freeman are capable of playing.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
PurpleMustReign wrote:
Lol, as opposed to the tidy museum-like deal we've had so far this season?
*shrug*
I had it in my head we'd play Ponder until he either seized the starting role (ha) or obviously failed then sign rookie and pray that rookie was our next Brady/Manning. Now Ponder is injured, may or may not start again, Cassel may or may not start again and Freeman may or may not start. One or all three might get some playing time at some point? Maybe? Now you have to evaluate three QBs in 12 games? If Ponder is done, is he done at 29 starts and Spielman has seen enough to properly evaluate him and turn the page? What about Cassel? Freeman? What if one of them does...decent? How does that affect potentially re-signing him and how does it play into your draft strategy (with a deep QB class)?
Maybe it's just me.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
dead_poet wrote:
Unless that rookie comes in and has an immediate impact (a la Russel Wilson), and plays at a higher level than a Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel or Josh Freeman are capable of playing.
And I'd say the odds of that are less than 10%. But since we're the vikings you probably have to deduct 5% from that just by default hehe!
I'm excited. I could see this going either way though in terms of helping the team. Cassell just put forth a solid outting & deserves at least 1 more start. Beyond that I have no clue though which can be looked at as bad in that there is no stability at the most important position in football, or good in that there are at least some viable options which is more than what can be said about last year.
I chose : Putting anyone on the field other than Ponder is a mistake.
Because it's the funniest statement I've heard in a long time, and ultimately, I like to ruffle feathers
UKno1VIKING wrote:I chose : Putting anyone on the field other than Ponder is a mistake.
Because it's the funniest statement I've heard in a long time, and ultimately, I like to ruffle feathers
Nice!
I've told people a million times not to exaggerate!
It's been a rough start for the Giants.
Nice!