Quarterback Josh Freeman picked the Vikings as his next destination on October 6. The Vikings rushed him to the field on October 21 against the Giants.
It didn’t go well, and we’ve yet to see Freeman on the field since then.
With no indication that Christian Ponder will be benched (again), the question remains when or if the Vikings will give Freeman another chance. On Wednesday, coach Leslie Frazier offered a lukewarm endorsement of Freeman.
"[H]e’s working hard, doing everything he can in practice and in meetings to continue to improve and put himself in a position to at some point, to help our team,” Frazier said, via quotes distributed by the team. “But yeah, we’re pleased with his work ethic and the way he’s progressing.”
Sunday’s game at Seattle will be the fourth that Freeman has missed since making his only start. At some point, the question of whether he’s able to become the team’s next franchise quarterback will be answered by default.
Thus, at some point, it makes no sense to keep paying him $166,667 per week. Because he’s destined to make his once-per-career claim for termination pay from the Buccaneers, the Vikings would owe Freeman nothing if they release him.
And every dollar saved now is a dollar that would be earned for the salary cap, either this year or beyond.