Christian Ponder's future? Vikings haven't dumped him yet

Ray Slover

Christian Ponder's future? Vikings haven't dumped him yet image

Don't buy into the notion that Christian Ponder is toast as a Minnesota Vikings quarterback. At least, not yet.

Word is getting round the league that Ponder, while still vulnerable to trade speculation, still has a place with the team. Yes, Matt Cassel and first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater are present.

But Ponder will get first-team work in summer workouts, according to NFL.com.

This makes perfect sense, because if GM Rick Spielman does want to trade Ponder he has a chance to showcase him before heavy-duty work toward the 2014 season begins.

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Ponder is viewed as a failure with the Vikings, a first-round flop on a team that jettisoned its coach after last season. The Vikings decided not to pick up a fifth-year option on Ponder, one that would have paid him $9.6 million for the 2015 season.

Cassel arrived as a veteran to carry the team while Bridgewater developed. Ponder was hot in trade rumors, but not hot enough for a team to snag him.

It's not hard to find flaws with Ponder. He was good in an offense built around Adrian Peterson and the running game, but lacked the NFL qualities to win games  --  good but not great arm strength to make downfield throws or plays outside the numbers. Observers question his ability to see the entire field.

Maybe Ponder, like Cassel, will fit the mold of a "bridge" quarterback. The Vikings have a plan; if nothing else, they have insurance in Ponder and won't need to rush Bridgewater.

Ray Slover