Ponder for Freeman

[LMITOUT]

So is tonight the night we find out if Freeman is MN bound?

[countyline]

So is tonight the night we find out if Freeman is MN bound?

Maybe tomorrow big guy!!!!

[zepman]

Both Glazer and Mortenson are reporting that it's likely between the Vikings and Raiders. Both Spielman and Frazier have reportedly talked with Freeman personally and that Freemans 1st choice would be to be in Purple...

Stay tuned....

[creepworm]

Per Mike Florio, Josh Freeman is signing with the Vikes.

Great Move!

[countyline]

Per Mike Florio, Josh Freeman is signing with the Vikes.

Great Move!

Time to pop some pop corn and watch this unravel.

[hockeybc69]

One teams junk, another teams treasure.

Add another short term qb to the list.

At least this is showing the end of Ponder more and more!!!

So that's good.

[LABS4ME]

Or ravel!

Good luck! (I mean it)

Ken

[Alagnak]

Order your super bowl tickets now purple cool aid pounders ;-)

[Big Dave2]

Quote:

Source: QB Josh Freeman to Vikings

Updated: October 7, 2013, 12:01 AM ET

ESPN.com news services

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is signing with the Minnesota Vikings, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The Vikings gave Freeman a one-year deal worth about $3 million, according to the source.

All totaled, Freeman will make more than $11.4 million until he becomes a free agent this winter, factoring in the $2.479 million the Bucs paid him at the start of the season, $5.9 million in termination pay from the team, and his new deal with Minnesota.

Freeman also had been linked to the Bills and Raiders since being released by the Bucs on Thursday after a tumultuous season for the quarterback and the team that made him the 17th overall pick in the 2009 draft.

The Vikings add Freeman to a quarterback depth chart that already includes Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel -- who started in place of an injured Ponder in Minnesota's only win of the season.

"I think Josh Freeman is a good player," a Vikings source told ESPN's Josina Anderson. "We just have to figure out where things went wrong in Tampa Bay so we can help him. He is too young not to progress."

The Vikings will still list Ponder as their starter, a team source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, though he is recovering from a fractured rib.

Cassel started last week in a 34-27 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in London. The team is coming off a bye week as it begins preparations for its Week 6 home game against the Carolina Panthers. With the addition of Freeman, the Vikings are likely to release third-string QB MacLeod Bethel-Thompson, sources said.

The Buccaneers tried to trade the recently demoted starter but were unable to find a taker. Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik contacted all 31 other teams in an attempt to trade Freeman, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.

Freeman was in the final year of his rookie contract. The Buccaneers entered the season fully willing to pay him as a franchise quarterback as long as he demonstrated he was worthy with his performance on the field, sources said.

Freeman was benched in favor of rookie Mike Glennon prior to Tampa Bay's 13-10 loss to Arizona in Week 4. In 60 career games, Freeman has thrown for 13,534 yards, 80 touchdowns and 66 interceptions. He is the franchise's leader in career TD passes.

Last season, Freeman threw for 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns. He had two touchdown passes and three interceptions this season before he was benched.

Information from ESPN's Ed Werder and Chris Mortensen, and ESPN.com's Mike Rodak contributed to this report.

[luckydog25]

MBT being released is a mistake...I am hoping they release Ponder.

[zepman]

Bet your bottom dollar Ponder is being shopped pretty hard right now...probably a 5th, 6th, or 7th round pick is all we'll get in return but I'd take it and run.

Same teams looking at Freeman as a possibility will be looking at Ponder now...Raiders, Bills, and his (college) home state Jaguars.

[candiru]

You better do something if you want to sell $2500 seat licenses.

[LABS4ME]

MBT being released is a mistake...I am hoping they release Ponder.

But he's their starter!

Good Luck!

Ken

[DTro]

4065/27 are pretty good stats.  Even if you played the 16 worst teams in the NFL it still takes some skill to rack up those numbers.    Its highly likely that if Freeman can put up anything resembling that, he will be here at #1 for a long time.   Cassel cannot be happy, just when everything was going his way…

 

It will be very interesting to see who QB’s the last few games of the season.  You can’t seriously bench Cassel after his last game can you?

 

I would guess they will try very hard to trade Ponder (even if they get peanuts) and keep Freeman on the bench for the rest of the year and start fresh with him next year

[Rick]

He's not staying on the bench at $3 million for 10 games.

[nofishfisherman]

4065/27 are pretty good stats.  Even if you played the 16 worst teams in the NFL it still takes some skill to rack up those numbers.   

[CaptainMusky]

Yeah, his recent numbers are not very spectacular that is for sure, but one could argue that he has had less to work with than the Vikings and he has had to go through two coaches as well. The current coach is likely gone before season's end as well.

I wish there had been a second year option here, because if he does perform well that opens up a bidding war for him this offseason.

I really doubt that he is going to sit for long considering he is being paid more than either of the other two QB's we have.

Cassel will get at least this week, but after that all bets are off as to when Freeman gets a shot.

[nofishfisherman]

Reports say he vikings wanted him to sign a 2 year deal but he only wanted a 1 year deal. If he blows up this year the vikings will be in a bidding war for him. Thats a huge "IF" though.

[DTro]

So what if Cassel blows up the next game???

[nofishfisherman]

Then I assume things get interesting. Either way I think Ponder is basically on the scrap heap at this point.

[ozzie]

Freeman will start week 7 and on...the thing is Freeman had plenty of offensive weapons in his years at TB...Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson are both pretty good. I think he has more upside then Cassel or Ponder but he is not mentally strong enough to take your team to the Super Bowl...

[DTro]

So you are telling me that if Cassel puts up 300/3 they will bench him?

[nofishfisherman]

So you are telling me that if Cassel puts up 300/3 they will bench him?

If Cassel is hot and they are winning he'll keep the job. But it won't take much of a slip up for him to lose the job. Cassel is going to have to play virtually perfect football to keep the job after they invested in Freeman.

[CaptainMusky]

Its not like they are paying Freeman a ton of money to come in so I am not exactly sure I buy into the fact that Cassel has to play perfect. If they were paying someone $8M at this point I would say Cassel is on a VERY short leash, but Freeman is getting $3M which is comparable to Ponder and Cassel so I dont see this as something where he will be named the starter definitively unless there is an injury or Cassel plays very poorly.

I think its Cassel's job to lose at this point.

[ozzie]

Freeman is getting as much as both Cassel and Ponder combined and for only 10 games