The only thing Minnesota is confident about is that newly signed quarterback Josh Freeman will not start on Sunday. After that, it is really anyone's game. The Vikings made a move on Monday signing former Buccaneers quarterback Freeman, leaving the futures of Christian Ponder and Mat Cassel in flux. While members of the Vikings coaching staff and front office are downplaying the move, fans understand that the quarterback situation just got a little more muddy.
Ponder is not addressing the speculation of his future with Freeman now on board. After missing last week's game due to a rib injury, the only thing the quarterback is focused on is preparing to play on Sunday. He is not thinking about the remaining quarterbacks on the roster.
"It wasn't my decision," Ponder said, via the Pioneer Press. "It was what's best for the team. In my eyes, I'm getting prepared to play. As long as I play well, then I'm the one on the field."
Head coach Leslie Frazier echoed these statements. He continues to refer to Ponder as the starting quarterback, but is not committed to putting him on the field on Sunday. While Freeman will remain inactive this week, Cassel is an option to play if Ponder is not healthy.
"I think Christian still has a bright future here with our football team," Frazier said. "It may not look like that on the surface, but Christian's a professional. He's going to work as hard as he can every day to prepare, get back on the field and help our team win. He's a pro."
While Ponder continues to say that if he plays well and remains on the field, the issue is that he is not on the field. After leading the Vikings to an 0-3 start, he went out with a rib injury while Cassel started and got Minnesota their first victory. He stresses that after the bye week he is totally healthy and remains faithful that he will remain in the good graces of the Vikings.
"I'm just focused on what I can do," Ponder said. "We'll see how it plays out. I'm a man of faith. So I believe that God's got my future in His hands. I don't know what that means, but I'm trying to get healthy. I think ultimately this is going to make me a better quarterback."
General manager Rick Spielman is stressing that the signing of Freeman does not dictate the future of Ponder. He says the Vikings are committed to Ponder and developing him into a top quarterback. The signing of Freeman was simply to "get the best 53 players on the roster."
"At the end of the season, we'll make an evaluation like we always do and determine that going forward but by no means is this a reflection on we're disappointed in Christian Ponder or disappointed in Matt Cassel or disappointed in Bethel, it was just an opportunity to go out and add another football player that we have high regard for," said Spielman.
