NFL News & Rumors Digest

One of the biggest surprises in the initial round of the 2011 draft came when the Vikings selected Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder with the 12th overall choice.  With coach Leslie Frazier hoping to get Ponder ready to be the starter in Week One and with Ponder having no ability to function with Frazier or any of the other coaches while the lockout lingers, Ponder has been on his own, working out at the IMG facility in Florida, with former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.

Ponder lately told Paul Allen and Paul Charchian of KFAN that the first-rounder will be wrapping up the sessions soon and producing his way to Minnesota, in the hopes the lockout will be ending.

“I’m finishing up IMG [training] at the end of next week,” Ponder stated.  “They have a [rookie] symposium down here at IMG next week.  That’s Tuesday and Wednesday, and I have to do some points for Gatorade down here [in Florida] on Thursday.  I’m going to a loved ones reunion just north of Nashville for a couple of days for the weekend of the 4th [of July] and then I have to go to Peyton Manning’s camp in Louisiana on the 7th and the 8th.  Soon after that, when I’m accomplished being busy, I’m going to head up to Minnesota and find a location to live and kind of get settled.  Hopefully, this lockout will be carried out and we’ll get started.”

When the lockout ends, the Vikings are expected to sign a veteran quarterback.  Ponder understands that, but he also plans to compete to be the starter when the season begins.

“Obviously, I think everybody in my position would enjoy to begin Week 1,” Ponder stated.  “It’s the competitor in me and one thing I’ve always dreamed of was beginning in the NFL and I want to do it AS.  But clearly there are some reasons behind bringing a guy in and clearly there’s some definite pros to it.  If they still bring in a guy it’s going to be somebody who knows what he’s performing. It will give me a lot to understand from and assist me out.  But at the exact same time, I want to surely commence Week One.  We’ll see what happens and whatever occurs I’ll be entirely fine with it.  I think the coaches are going to make the very best decision for me personally.”

We’re not so sure about that.  The coaches will be producing the very best decision for the team, in the hopes of competing in a suddenly strong NFC North.  If that means parking Ponder on the bench for a year, so be it.  If it indicates Ponder beginning, so be it.  With a lot of veteran quarterbacks accessible, either via no cost agency or trade, once the lockout ends, the Vikings could go in a lot of distinct directions.  The overriding goal will be to maximize wins and reduce losses in 2011.

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