A veteran QB who has experienced the highs and lows of the position and has experience as a team’s starter and purported savior being on hand to chat with Ponder every day? Wow, what a terrible thing….. Maybe they paid him a little much, but it looks like they are striking out on the FA market, so why not? Considering the way things are going, why not use all that cap space to trade for Fitz and see where that takes them. Of course, that will mean $30 mil/year between Fitz and AD, which is extremely handcuffing, but what do they have to lose at this point?

Didn’t he take the Patriots to a 11-5 record?

Cassel obviously has had an up and down career but he posted very healthy statistics in 2008 and 2010. And the Vikings scheme doesn’t require a whole lot from the QB position. Cassel has adequete skills to hand off to Peterson and occasionally throw passes against single safety zone defenses.

i’m also sure Vikings already have 1 eye on 2014 draft with possiblity of much higher qb talent in that draft, if ponder does not continue to improve & cassell on a 1 year deal they could scrap the entire position after the 2013 season if necessary.

Matt, I’d like you to meet Christian. Christian, I’d like you to meet your replacement.

SMH.

But if they only signed him to a one year contract – that surely isn’t the plan.

Signing a QB for only a one year deal that you think really has a shot to be your starter makes no sense.

Here’s what I think happens: ponder starts but does poorly for about half the season. He is benched. Cassel comes in. Plays well. Next season there is a competition. Cassel wins. Plays poorly. Ponder comes in. Play well…Vikings draft a new qb the next year because of uncertainty at position. Either ponder or cassel start, but is eventually replaced by the new rookie. New rookie shows promise. Starts the entire next season, plays mediocre. Vikings get another veteran backup who then eventually beats out the new rookie…

And around and around the Vikings go with their qb situation.

The reason I think this: because its been happening since Sean Salisbury was the qb.

Way to go speilman. Your already sensitive qb has another veteran breathing down his neck. That should go well…

Maybe they feel that Ponder should be ready to earn his job against a legitimate challenger after two years of not having to worry about it.

When did competition become such a terrible thing?

Maybe they have plans to draft another QB, and we all know they’ll ride A.P. into the ground (that makes sense, he’s awesome), but this team needs to increase the level of talent, period. And don’t respond with the “they were a playoff team last season!”. Yeah, so were the Chiefs two seasons ago with Cassel, and it was merely a mirage. The Vikes rode A.P.’s incredible season into the playoffs, and that’s not happening again. Ponder will need to throw the football for them to win, and that’s a problem.

That may have something to do with this contract….

Cassel is a good pickup for the Vikings but Ponder has shown that he can be the future and earned his starting role.

Having said that, $4m is too much for a backup, and I’m sure that won’t be the deal going forward. I’m sure the hope is that MBT will become the backup, for about $3.5m less than Cassel.