Nov 24, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) warms up before game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Christian Ponder can’t complain about a lack of communication between him and new Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. And he can’t claim to be surprised when the Vikings add more quarterbacks to the roster ahead of the 2014 season.
Zimmer has kept the lines of communication open with Ponder. And he’s been very open with Ponder about the team’s quarterback plans.
Zimmer told Jim Rome about his recent conversation with the only QB currently on the Vikings’ roster.
“I actually talked to Christian Ponder today,” Zimmer told Rome. “I told him we’re going to try to draft a quarterback at some point, we are going to probably sign a quarterback in free agency.”
You can’t be any more forthright than that.
Zimmer wouldn’t give details about Ponder’s response. He only said that Ponder gave “his side.”
Previously, Ponder indicated that if he wasn’t going to start in Minnesota, he wanted out. Zimmer certainly hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Ponder starting, but he hasn’t handed Ponder the job either.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Zimmer has made it clear that if Ponder wants to start for the Vikings, he’ll have to earn it.
Something of a reversal from the attitude of previous head coaches, who were always so eager to name a starting quarterback well ahead of the season.
I guess Zimmer doesn’t believe in serving out starting jobs to guys who haven’t earned it yet. What a novel concept.
But Ponder can’t complain that he’s being treated unfairly. Zimmer laid out to him what the situation is. When camp comes around, Ponder will have his chance to show why he should start.
If he hasn’t been traded by then.
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