Vikings won't pick up Christian Ponder's 2015 option

The Vikings won't pick up QB Christian Ponder's 2015 option, NFL.com's Marc Sessler reports. Ponder, the 2011 Draft's 12th Overall Pick, is due to make $9.6 million this season, despite the fact that he might not even make the team.

Anyway, in his first three NFL seasons in Minnesota, Ponder has struggled pretty badly, throwing just 38 TDs and 34 INTs. To go along with those numbers, the guy has also put together a low 77.3 QBR, another reason why this decision was probably an easy one to make.

Interestingly, Ponder told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune earlier this week that he believes the team's expectation is that Matt Cassel, not him, will be the team's starter in 2014, meaning that even he seems to see himself as being on the decline. 

“I think the expectation is that [Cassel is] going to be a starter," Ponder said. "But for me, I’m competing for the job. That’s what’s going on in my mind. It’s a competition. It’s a clean slate for all of us. I don’t think any of the coaches have made a decision about what’s going on yet, but hopefully the best guy gets to play."

So yea, I guess our time of knowing who Ponder is is almost over. Don't know if that's good or bad, as Ponder being in Minnesota often caused them to lose, but still, it's happening. I guess that requires our acknowledgement. 

Injuries To Ponder and Winfield Might Be The Key To The Packers Playoff Game

My prediction was that if the Green Bay Packers stop QB Christian Ponder then the Vikings have almost no chance of winning. Here's what Bill Barnwell wrote at Grantland:

So if we assume that Peterson and Rodgers have productive days, it feels like the game falls on the shoulders of Christian Ponder. Ponder had just about the best game of his career on Sunday, and the Vikings were only able to win by three. Ponder went 16-of-28 for 234 yards with three scores and no picks, notably hitting Jarius Wright with a perfect 65-yard bomb up the seam.

CB Antonie Winfield's broken hand is another major concern, he was only able to play until halftime last week and QB Aaron Rodgers torched his replacement, but Ponder's the key. And the elbow injury he suffered last week on a hit by S Morgan Burnett might either limit him or keep him out of the game. From Kevin Seifert at ESPN:

I did a little snooping this evening, and here's what I can tell you: Ponder's injury is more than a simple bump or bruise, but if there is real concern about his ability to play, it's being kept well under wraps. The injury might be significant enough for the Vikings to have No. 3 quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in uniform for the first time this season, but it would be a real surprise if Ponder doesn't start, as ESPN's John Clayton reports. 

His replacement would be QB Joe Webb, who's only taken 3 snaps this season and more of a threat as a runner than a passer. He might bring a new dynamic to the game, but Ponder's a good threat to run in his own right, so I don't think the Packers' defense would have to adjust much to Webb. Without any game reps, and probably few first team reps all year in practice, Webb's already questionable accuracy would have to be rusty. Plus, I don't think any NFL team should expect to win without the ability to pass under any circumstances.

The Packers have been dealing with their own injuries (CB Tramon Williams has been sick this week, WR Jordy Nelson has a bad knee, and WR Randall Cobb is coming back from an ankle injury) but all three should play on Saturday night. The Vikings would have been at a disadvantage if everyone is healthy, but injuries to Ponder and Winfield might cripple their passing offense and defense.