APVikings quarterback Christian Ponder has proven himself to be cool under pressure this season, leading his team to an unexpected 4-2 start.
Likewise, he smoothly handled the breaking news that he’s dating an ESPN sideline reporter named Samantha Steele (she’s the taller one on the left).
“This is big news, huh?” Ponder said Friday when he noticed a crowd around his locker, via Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. “Good Lord.”
For a quarterback to date pretty and/or famous people is nothing new, and it’s also impossible to conceal in a Twitter world. In fact, Ponder and Steele were discovered when he accidentally tweeted her (not a euphemism) earlier this month.
“There’s been a thousand articles today about it,” Ponder said. “You can’t really worry about it. You’ve got to try to keep it private, but that’s just part of the industry, part of the job. I don’t know. Comes with the territory.”
He apparently met Steele on the set of “College Game Day” last year, and seemed rather pleased with himself.
“I’m proud of the relationship,” Ponder said. “I can brag. I’ve got bragging rights, I believe.”
That doesn’t mean his teammates haven’t been destroying him, with the offensive line referring to him as “Mr. Steele,” and tight end Kyle Rudolph saying it wouldn’t have happened if they weren’t winning.
“So, whatever,” Ponder said. “Christian Steele is kind of a sweet name, don’t you think?”
Sure it is, Chris. You go with that.
Channel Finder
Really?
Vikings dim witted quarterback Christian Ponder was spotted in the company of ESPN sideline groupie, Samantha Steele recently. We hope it’s nothing serious.
I’d hit it…
Just keep winning, and it’ll all be fine.
I’d throw it up in there and see what happens.
I’d take sloppy seconds anyday with her!!!
There’s been a thousand articles today about it,” Ponder said. “You can’t really worry about it.
________________
If you cant really worry about it, then how did you become aware that there are a 1000 articles about it? Sounds like the type to google himself everyday. (not a euphemism)
Meh… seen better.
She’s a dime. Good work, Christian.
The girl Christian dated while at FSU was waaayy hotter. Her name was Kacie McDonnell.
If you don’t believe me, google her, and prepare to drop your mouth!
Samantha Steele as seen in this picture, was competing in the annual spelling bee. She lost out to the eventual winner Lori Anne when she failed to spell ESPN.
What a rascal!
Ponder is a stand-up guy on and off the field. Any comments here to the contrary are made by ignorant Packer fans.
I hope she hasn’t complained about his inability to go deep.
I guess if you can’t get Erin Andrews this isn’t terrible.
Hmm – centering drills at the Ponder house must be fun! I’m guessing he doesn’t call many plays that require shotgun.
Ms Steele can never date another football player ever again if this doesnt work out as she will be labeled some unkind names.Reality. Which is why i dont think its a good idea for her and her career. Besides, if she is asked to cover his games, how do you think she sides or is this going to be purposefully avoided so no conflict of interest?
Atta’ boy
It’s tough enough making this kind of thing work when nobody is watching.
He seems to have the right attitude.
good luck!
Hmm, and all this time I was CONVINCED that Christian Ponder was …. uhh nevermind, doesnt matter, good for him.
It took a while for them to get together. She kept trying to get him to make a pass at her but he couldn’t take his focus off Percy Harvin and Kyle Rudolph.
thegreatgabbert says:Oct 19, 2012 4:07 PM
Vikings dim witted quarterback Christian Ponder
_________
He graduated college in 2.5 years and he has a Masters degree. He’s also a starting NFL quarterback with a big salary and a hot girlfriend. I guess if it makes you feel better about yourself, you could call him “dim witted.”
Oh yeah, he also beat Jacksonville by getting the team in field goal position from his own 20-yard line in 11 seconds. That’s gotta hurt.
“He graduated college in 2.5 years and he has a Masters degree. He’s also a starting NFL quarterback with a big salary and a hot girlfriend. I guess if it makes you feel better about yourself, you could call him “dim witted.”
So he’s the exact opposite of you?
Nobody cares you beat the Jaguars, by the way.
You can take the boy out of the frat house, but……..
Sam Steele is a definite downgrade from Erin Andrews, both in terms of appearance & job performance.. the appearance part is understandable, but the job performance part is mind-boggling.. we’ve finally found someone who does more to ruin Gameday than Desmond Howard, which was once thought impossible ..ponder that
He should get it while the getting is good.
Later on as the Vikings sink back toward mediocrity and challenge the Lions for last place, she might not want to be seen in the company of losers.
Just don’t name your kid Lexington. Girls in his future might be let down.
I would hope she was the one on the left, if not Chris Hanson would walk out behind the curtain after he.poured his drink n ate his cookiesq
Good for him.
I didn’t realize a ‘journalist’ could just paraphrase ESPN reporting! Good effort Darin!
“Likewise, he smoothly handled the breaking news that he’s dating an ESPN sideline reporter named Samantha Steele (she’s the taller one on the left).”
Thanks for making sure we really know which one she was. Despite the fact that she was wearing a name tag that clearly says “Samantha Steele” and was next to a little girl whose name tag says “Lori Anne”, I’m not sure my little brain could’ve put together which one he was dating. Thanks for the heads up.
He’s being honest. He was the QB at FSU, have you seen the chicks their? This really isn’t ‘big news’ to him, he’s use to dating 10′s
She likes being on camera and getting noticed.
He’s a Viking who never gets on television and can’t buy a highlight.
This has no chance and is likely to as short as a pass behind the line of scrimmage.
mcjon22 says: Oct 19, 2012 6:47 PM
He’s being honest. He was the QB at FSU, have you seen the chicks their?
—————————————————–
I’m an FSU alum and can attest to this statement, having met my college sweetheart/current girlfriend here. Tons of beautiful, approachable girls everywhere just take your pick lol.
She’s the one on the left?
Thanks for clarifying.
Who cares? Ponder has no brains anyway.
You can tell the loser Packer fans because they keep referencing Erin Andrews who supposedly went on a couple dates with Aaron Rodgers, according to some internet reports and when it happened, no one cared in the media world.
They’re jealous because up and comer Christian Ponder is getting more pub for dating a sideline reporter, than Rodgers got. But what’s pathetic is Packer fans are actually trying to compare the girls as some sort of competition. Packer fans are so pathetically jealous that Aaron Rodgers’ beard didn’t get any attention.
blacknole08 says:
Oct 19, 2012 4:31 PM
The girl Christian dated while at FSU was waaayy hotter. Her name was Kacie McDonnell.
If you don’t believe me, google her, and prepare to drop your mouth!
_______________________________
Crikey…you ain’t kidding. On a scale of 1-10, she’s a 20.
I guess she dropped the Reds Drew Stubbs bc he can’t hit a curve ball.
gnarlswoodson says:Oct 19, 2012 5:33 PM
“He graduated college in 2.5 years and he has a Masters degree. He’s also a starting NFL quarterback with a big salary and a hot girlfriend. I guess if it makes you feel better about yourself, you could call him “dim witted.”
So he’s the exact opposite of you?
Nobody cares you beat the Jaguars, by the way.
_________
thegreatgabbert does.
Oh, and I do okay.
“Christian Steele,” that’s a superhero name, lol.
the vikings are not going to be down on the bottom with the lions in the division that is not what the article is about you are most likely a packer fan and you guys are going down when we play you cant wait till harrison and allen and greenway get there hands on the packers and put them packing
She was the checkdown option I assume.
I thought he was dating John Sullivan?