Vikings' Christian Ponder open to trade, but maximizing time

[Demi]

I know a lot of people don't like Ponder. I just don't think he is a bad as everyone makes him out to be. But that's just me. He will be gone next year and we won't have to talk about him anymore.

A lot of Vikings fans seem to like Ponder, and think he's better than everyone makes him out to be. (Including the Vikings front office, coaches, and other teams, apparently)

The stat your using has a lot of variables. Including the defense. They allowed a lot of points...which is going to allow more scoring opportunities for Ponder. Ponder not sustaining drives and allowing the other team the ball, and likely a score considering the defense, is going to allow Ponder more scoring opportunities. How did the defenses the two played affect the number? Home/Away? How many scoring opportunities did the opposing offense get not only because of turnovers, but a lack of sustained drives from the Vikings offense?

The scary thought here is that as bad as he was, Ponder was probably the best option.

And yet the people who's jobs were on the line, replaced him with the other option. Which, stats be damned, looked like a pretty nice upgrade over Ponder watching the two of them on the field. And the front office not only resigned what was apparently not a better option, but he ended up getting the started job, along with another 1st round pick on a player already ahead of Ponder on the depth chart.

We all watched Ponder last year, and Cassell last year, and after watching the two it's insane to me that some people still feel like they're the same QB, or close enough that there should even be a discussion. And here we are this year with Cassell starting, Ponder #3, getting little to no preseason snaps, and even missing out on snaps in practice.

Maybe Ponder just held this team hostage so long some fans got Stockholm syndrome?

[Mothman]

I would not be opposed to trading Christian Ponder at all, but I have to say that, putting that aside, Zimmer impresses again with his excellent leadership in the way he embraces Ponder, both in his post game comments to the team and his first statements in his post game interview with the media. He is circling the wagons around a guy who has been a whipping boy and that's a great example of how you build your team into a family.

Well said! I couldn't agree more.

[frosted]

I would not be opposed to trading Christian Ponder at all, but I have to say that, putting that aside, Zimmer impresses again with his excellent leadership in the way he embraces Ponder, both in his post game comments to the team and his first statements in his post game interview with the media. He is circling the wagons around a guy who has been a whipping boy and that's a great example of how you build your team into a family.

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 95f25237b0
http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... f1ba99aa45

Absolutely, that says a lot about Zimmer as a leader and as a man.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I wonder what Norv's opinion of Ponder is. To me, he is the biggest mistake, in a draft, the Vikings ever made. Ever worse then Troy Williamson. He has just been such a waste of time, I cant believe Zimmer has said those things. I would how much of Ponder's years as the #1QB he has watched.

[Mothman]

I wonder what Norv's opinion of Ponder is. To me, he is the biggest mistake, in a draft, the Vikings ever made. Ever worse then Troy Williamson. He has just been such a waste of time, I cant believe Zimmer has said those things. I would how much of Ponder's years as the #1QB he has watched.

Norv seems to like him:

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... ans-booing

"I think he's done everything he can do, and he's working his butt off," Turner said Tuesday. "He's a guy that's going to be valuable to our team. The thing in Cleveland [last season], we had three different guys have their career-best games in three different situations, and we didn't win the game because we gave up a touchdown at the end of the game, or something kept us from winning the game that was out of the quarterback's hands. I thought that happened to Christian a number of times last year. Having three quarterbacks, if that's the way we end up going, that's extremely valuable to me."

He talked about him back in February as well:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 69861.html

[Mothman]

Still can't believe that people are still upset over Ponder being a 3rd freaking stringer.

I think people will still be upset about Ponder years after his days as a Viking are over and I mean that sincerely. I think the feelings about him run that deep.

[Laserman]

Ponder can be successful in the NFL if he can cut down on turnovers and learn to stay comfortable in the pocket.[/quote]

Mothman is correct here. I wish he could, but from day one the pressure inside the pocket has rattled him, he gets happy feet as a result, he doesn't go through his progressions quick because the pressure gets to his mind and he stares down his first option . Maybe Norv can help him with this and he could be good.