Last week, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder said that he was open to a trade now that he’s ensconced in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart in Minnesota.
Vikings coaches have since said that they feel there’s value to having Ponder on the team, something the team’s fans don’t seem to agree with given the boos that Ponder’s heard in the preseason. Ponder said Wednesday that he’s heard the boos and understands where they come from, but the frosty reaction isn’t turning his openness toward a trade into a burning desire to move elsewhere.
“I’m not asking for a trade,” Ponder said, via the Pioneer Press. “I’m learning so much right now. I do feel like it’s beneficial for me to be right here right now. As a competitor, though, you want to be the guy that’s out there playing. But I do feel like in the situation I’m in right now, I am getting better though I’m not playing.”
The idea of Ponder asking for a trade after the way he’s played thus far in his NFL career may elicit some chuckles, but so do the backup quarterback pictures for some teams around the league. The 49ers come to mind as a team that may want to consider other options after watching Blaine Gabbert live down to his reputation and there aren’t many with the experience that Ponder has picked up over the last three years.