Place your bets! Who will start at QB vs. Packers?

[RiverFish]

I hope Ponder does play so we can see what his game skills are like. You have to remember that Ponder will have the same terrible O-line and the same terrible WRs. Newton and Dalton are in much better circumstances.

I think if Ponder does play the Vikes will throw a bunch of AP at the Packers.

[james_walleye]

Newton in better circumstances? This is a team that had the #1 pick last year. The biggest difference between the 2 teams is the Panthers have a rookie qb playing pretty good ball and the vikings veteran is not. We can agree to disagree here because the biggest issue at hand is getting a young qb expierience.

[RiverFish]

Newton is in a way better situation. He has an above average offensive line, the Vikings o-line I think we can agree is absolutely terrible.

Newton actually has WRs to throw to as well, specifically a deep ball threat.

But I do agree the Vikes need to see what they have in Ponder, good or bad. At this point they need to prepare for next year.

[zepman]

I hope Ponder does play so we can see what his game skills are like. You have to remember that Ponder will have the same terrible O-line and the same terrible WRs. Newton and Dalton are in much better circumstances.

I think if Ponder does play the Vikes will throw a bunch of AP at the Packers.

'

There are ways to protect the qb other than having a good o-line. The Bears o-line turned the corner pretty well in a two week period. Same talent on the field...different blocking schemes.

James is right...I don't think anyone fears GB's defense...it's just an average NFL defense. The offense is another story.

[RiverFish]

I agree, GB defense does not scare anyone, but they do play better when they are up 14+ points. Which I think will happen, and Defenses love playing against rookie QB with no experience who have to throw the ball up to play catch up.

I don't think it matter who the Vikes are playing this week. They need to completely revaluate what they are doing and who they are doing it with. McNabb is not the future, Ponder may be. Give him a shot, good or bad, then the Vikes will know what they have and what they need to do for next year.

[zepman]

You're right...don't think it'll matter considering the outcome of the game at all.

Right now, it's all about getting the kid some game time under his belt. He'll play as good if not better than McNabb...kinda hard not to.

[Scott K]

Right now the Vikings biggest opponent is them selves. They need to stop beating themselves, and just make plays. They dont need to throw the ball 70% of the time, run a 50/50 game, but on the passing attempts, they must be completed. Deffense, now thats a different story, our CB just cant give the WR a 10 yard cushion just to prevent the "BIG" play. The lack of a shutdown corner hurts our defense in all positions. The safeties have to always play deep, the line backers have to play a zone, and when that happens, it just opens the field up for easy 10 yard plays. We should be calling Philly back and see if we can make a trade, McNabb, for one of their under performing DB's.

[pikestabber]

Let me start by saying I was glad when we got McNabb and really, truly assumed he could resurrect his career here. Let me go on to say I was very, very wrong about that assumption. Start Ponder. McNabb, both when he was in the game and after he was taken out, just looked aloof when shown on the sidelines...slightly stupid smile, wandering eyes, no noticeable semblance of a competent QB or a guy that gave a rat's rear end. The announcers kept saying he wasn't having a bad game...no INTs, decent completion percentage, etc. Heck, even I could have a good completion percentage if my longest pass was a 5 yard check down and anytime a longer route was run I threw it in the dirt to avoid a pick or a sack...that kind of QB play, no matter how "safe" it is, just doesn't move the ball upfield and it doesn't get points on the board. It doesn't spread defenses to allow AP to do his thing. It doesn't create first downs, and it kills our time of possession which runs our defense down to empty by the end of the first half. McNabb is DONE. I don't care if he is friends with Frazier...this isn't a gentleman's game, it's a "what have you done for me lately" game. Let's make a change to see what we have in a guy we invested such a high pick in...trial by fire!

[FutbolGuru]

The is a controversy only because our oline is destroyed. Ponder is a better player for 3 reasons: He's faster than Mcnabb - he's more accurate than Mcnabb - and he actually sticks his arm out on playaction passes.

We're still in rough shape as a team, but starting Ponder over Mcnabb is the same as starting Cook over Griffin. Sometimes you just have to cut the cord.

[LMITOUT]

Ponder is starting Sunday!

Six weeks too late, but at least Leslie finally did something.

[Scott K]

Quote:

According to NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora, coach Leslie Frazier has notified Christian Ponder that he'll be starting over Donovan McNabb this week.

A scattershot McNabb averaged just 171 yards per game at just 6.6 yards per attempt in a 1-5 start. With any chance at the playoffs dashed, the only sensible move was to play the first-round pick. Though Ponder was shaky in preseason action, he showed positive signs in relief of McNabb Sunday night. There's enough talent on this offense to give Ponder a shot at QB2 value in a best-case scenario. His eight rushes for 61 yards in one half of the preseason finale suggest Ponder will add value on the ground. McNabb was bad enough that the move can be viewed as good news for the entire offense.

[Big Dave2]

Report: Christian Ponder To Start Sunday Vs. Green Bay

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com

@AjMansourKFAN

NFL.com reporter Jason La Canfora is reporting that Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has already made his quarterback decision for this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers.

At 12:53pm on Tuesday afternoon La Canfora tweeted "Vikings are changing QBs. Leslie Frazier has made the change and notified those involved. Christian Ponder takes over as starter." In true twitter reporting fashion there are no further details surrounding the situation but considering La Canfora's history, the information seems legit.

Ponder takes over the reigns as Vikings quarterback six games into his rookie season. The 12th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Ponder saw his first game time this past weekend as the Vikings were getting blown out in Chicago.

Thrown into difficult situation, Ponder complete 9/17 passing for 99 yards. He had a handful of rookie moments but must have shown enough to convince Leslie Frazier and the Vikings coaching staff that a switch was in the best interest of the team.

The change makes Ponder the fourth rookie quarterback from the 2011 NFL Draft class to start a game seven weeks into the regular season. The switch also marks the third time in as many years that a team has chosen to move on from Donovan McNabb.

Leslie Frazier will meet the press Wednesday morning at 11:30am, it will be interesting to hear what he has to say regarding this situation.

[grizrunner]

Go Ponder, kick GB!

[Getanet]

Better grab him for your fantasy teams while you still can! How many chances do you get to drop some underachiever and pick up Tom Brady 2.0?

[james_walleye]

Good deal.

[reinhard1]

i agree. sure he will make some mistakes, but this will give him the experience he needs and show his stuff. finaly. good luck.

[Scott K]

Quote:

ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirms an NFL Network report that Donovan McNabb has been benched in favor of Christian Ponder.

McNabb has now been benched by three different teams in the past four seasons. This is the first one that won't require a "financial apology," and there's plenty of speculation that McNabb could end up being released to avoid an awkward stint as a clipboard holder. With his accuracy, arm strength, and mobility on a severe decline, McNabb is no longer an NFL-caliber starter. He can be released in all fantasy leagues.

[Scott K]

I wonder if they have found a trade partner? Why else would they announce it a day earlier then expected? I bet they are looking for some sort of draft pick for him.

[LMITOUT]

That's what I've been saying from Day 1, but noooooo, that's Lmit just trolling again.

[flipper]

It would be nice if they could at least get a waterboy for him.

[Getanet]

I don't see how they'll get anything for him. What team needs a QB that badly they'd give up anything for him? Oakland just traded for Carson Palmer. Painter hasn't been looking that bad for Indy.

I don't know if anyone would even pick him up once we cut him.

[Big Dave2]

That's what I've been saying from Day 1, but noooooo, that's Lmit just trolling again.

That's the trouble with always being the boy that cried wolf.

[Born2Fish]

I'll give that one to you Lmt. From everything I saw, McNabb was a total flop for this team. I know I was one of the people who wanted to give him a chance, but I was wrong. He basically brought nothing to this team. I like the move to name Ponder the starting QB. He can not do any worse than McNabb, and I am sure that he can do MUCH better. Now, if we can just get the line to block for him a little bit.

[Scott K]

Ya, I didnt want him on our team in the first place. I wanted the rookies to fight it out, and start the best one. But the Vikings went out and got him, they needed to give him a chance, in which they did. I didnt think he would mount to much, and he didnt. I just thought they need to give him the chance, since they did sign him to some good money.

I will have to admit, you were right, they shouldnt have even given him the chance. But just because you were right, doesnt mean you werent trollng!

[Steve Foss]

McNabb gave the two youngsters time to learn the offense. Either Ponder or Webb would have to have been absolute studs to help the Vikes to a better record than they have now, and that wasn't likely to happen.

Would Rodgers have lit things up as a rookie if Favre was gone and he had to carry the Pack on his young shoulders? I'd reckon not. His time spent learning the defense (and I don't necessarily mean learning from Favre), was time well spent.

Looking on from a distance, I think the Vikes management/coaches figured it was six of one, half dozen of the other. On the bright side, it gives you guys something new to hope for, which is always great for a football fan. Maybe Ponder turns into the next Manning, Rodgers or Brady, and in time for AP to still be in his prime.

Anyway, good luck on the rest of the season, though of course I wish you bad luck both times against the Pack.