The Christian Ponder era has produced nothing but glory for the Minnesota Vikings. Wait, scratch that. It’s produced nothing but glory for the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFC North.
So, good news NFC North! The Vikings are bringing Ponder back for at least another season. General manager Rick Speilman, the genius who reached for Ponder in the first round back in 2011, confirmed as much on Friday.
“Christian will be here; I don’t anticipate anything — him not being here,” Spielman said.
There had been speculation that the Vikings would release Ponder because, you know, he’s fucking awful.
Ponder started nine games in 2013 and threw for 1,648 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Vikings were 2-6-1 in those games. It got so bad for Ponder that his own teammates openly lobbied for Matt Cassel to start.
That stellar performance followed a season in which Ponder started all 16 games and earned the distinction of being the only quarterback to do that and NOT throw for at least 3,000 yards. He threw for just 2,935 in a season in which Adrian Peterson ran for over 2,000 yards. How bad do you have to be when opposing teams are stacking the box on pretty much every down and daring you to pass to not hit 3,000 yards in 16 starts?
Christian Ponder bad.
Now the Vikings are again looking at drafting their quarterback of the future. And they kind of need to keep Ponder out of necessity. Cassel opted out of his contract and Josh Freeman, who the Vikings brilliantly signed during the season and played in just one game, is a free agent.
Whether Ponder opens the season as the starter or the Vikings trot out their new highly-touted (probably only by them) rookie quarterback remains to be seen.
We are thankful the ineptness of the Vikings front office has managed to waste Adrian Peterson’s formidable years, though. As always, well done you morons!