Monday, January 21, 2013
Potential QB changes for Vikes
By Tim Kavanagh
The Minnesota Vikings got uneven play from QB Christian Ponder in 2012, but the highs with Ponder were high enough for them to keep rolling with him as their starter for 2013. However, there may be some changes on the way in terms of the backup plan behind him.
Mark Craig of the Star Tribune writes that Joe Webb certainly leaves much to be desired when it comes to being an able No. 2 behind Ponder, and it doesn't appear that McLeod Bethel-Thompson is ready to step up. That means the Vikes will be looking for a veteran backup in free agency this season -- drawing, perhaps, out of the class of Derek Anderson, Matt Moore, David Carr, Matt Leinart, Byron Leftwich, Bruce Gradkowski, Jason Campbell and Rex Grossman -- and it's also possible they'll draft someone.
In a post from Jan. 8, ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert noted that giving Ponder at least one more season as the starter is a fair play by the Vikes:
Kevin Seifert
No surprise Ponder sticks as starter"It's quite possible the Vikings will look for a veteran quarterback, but the intention would be for that player to back up Ponder rather than compete with him for the starting job. Ponder will get at least three years as the Vikings' starter, and frankly that's a fair evaluation period for a first-round draft pick."
