The last two weeks haven’t sent too many positive signals about Christian Ponder’s future with the Vikings.
Minnesota signed Josh Freeman and opted to start Matt Cassel over Ponder last week even though Ponder had recovered from the rib injury that kept him out of the Week Four victory over the Steelers. None of that does much to back up General Manager Rick Spielman’s assertion that Ponder has a “bright future” after the team added Freeman and it’s left Ponder pondering what comes next.
“I don’t know. Again, I have to figure out what’s best for me and everything and for this team,” Ponder said, via Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. “I don’t know if that’s staying here or going somewhere else.”
Ponder hasn’t demanded a trade and coach Leslie Frazier said he didn’t see a scenario where Ponder isn’t on the team for the rest of the season, so there should be ample time for Ponder to think about what’s best for him before the end of the season. Even then, the Vikings will be making the final decision on where Ponder, who is signed through the 2014 season, heads after this season. Given how much could change in the organization if things don’t improve dramatically after a 1-4 start, we’ve got a long way to go before getting any idea of how that may play out.