For much of Christian Ponder's Minnesota Viking career, the Vikings have enlisted the services of the local media to cheerlead a player that the Vikings' front office desperately wants to succeed. In truth, most Vikings' fans would prefer this outcome, as well. The difference is that most Vikings' fans would prefer results to smoke and mirrors.
Having failed to convince the fans or will Ponder into becoming something that he is not, the Vikings and their minions now appear intent on denial. The next step is admitting a long-standing error. The final step is attempting to rectify the error.
The question for the Vikings is at what point the experiment will end? Based on comments by those vetted by the Vikings, it appears we are still early in the denial phase.
During a post-game interview with Vikings' head coach Leslie Frazier, Vikings' sideline reporter, Greg Coleman, never at a loss for a preposterous statement, chose silence for perhaps his most preposterous commentary of all time. Running through a litany of the Vikings' errors, Coleman spoke broadly and took the opportunity to single out players for inquiry.
Curiously missing from Coleman's questioning was any inquiry regarding Ponder. In a game in which Ponder had three picks and a botched handoff, easily could have had two more picks, and seemed to have only slightly more touch on his passes than Joe Webb, circa 2012-2013 playoffs, Coleman had not one question about the quarterback play. Punter? Check. Cornerback? Check. The leader of an offense that has yet to master the short game in run-first offense? Crickets. Frazier, not surprisingly, failed to spread the blame, permitting Coleman to pretend that the Vikings' problems were not primarily on a quarterback that is leagues behind his peers in progression.
The tension undoubtedly is building in Eden Prairie. On one side is a team with key veterans looking to make a playoff push, knowing that the good times--whatever they might be--are being retarded at a key position. On the other side is a General Manager, heavily invested in a high first-round pick, who has dug in his heels in a fashion that would make Brad Childress blush. Frazier has yet publicly to split with Rick Spielman, but, as the days of denial progress, the days of admission loom, and admission rarely comes in unison in the NFL. The question is whether Frazier will reach admission and save his career before Spielman relents and admits an error that is likely only to affect his ego.
Up Next: Apparently Three Years are Not Required to Evidence Significant Strides as an NFL Quarterback. Plus, with huffing and puffing amateurism waning, stadium construction nears.
Having failed to convince the fans or will Ponder into becoming something that he is not, the Vikings and their minions now appear intent on denial. The next step is admitting a long-standing error. The final step is attempting to rectify the error.
The question for the Vikings is at what point the experiment will end? Based on comments by those vetted by the Vikings, it appears we are still early in the denial phase.
During a post-game interview with Vikings' head coach Leslie Frazier, Vikings' sideline reporter, Greg Coleman, never at a loss for a preposterous statement, chose silence for perhaps his most preposterous commentary of all time. Running through a litany of the Vikings' errors, Coleman spoke broadly and took the opportunity to single out players for inquiry.
Curiously missing from Coleman's questioning was any inquiry regarding Ponder. In a game in which Ponder had three picks and a botched handoff, easily could have had two more picks, and seemed to have only slightly more touch on his passes than Joe Webb, circa 2012-2013 playoffs, Coleman had not one question about the quarterback play. Punter? Check. Cornerback? Check. The leader of an offense that has yet to master the short game in run-first offense? Crickets. Frazier, not surprisingly, failed to spread the blame, permitting Coleman to pretend that the Vikings' problems were not primarily on a quarterback that is leagues behind his peers in progression.
The tension undoubtedly is building in Eden Prairie. On one side is a team with key veterans looking to make a playoff push, knowing that the good times--whatever they might be--are being retarded at a key position. On the other side is a General Manager, heavily invested in a high first-round pick, who has dug in his heels in a fashion that would make Brad Childress blush. Frazier has yet publicly to split with Rick Spielman, but, as the days of denial progress, the days of admission loom, and admission rarely comes in unison in the NFL. The question is whether Frazier will reach admission and save his career before Spielman relents and admits an error that is likely only to affect his ego.
Up Next: Apparently Three Years are Not Required to Evidence Significant Strides as an NFL Quarterback. Plus, with huffing and puffing amateurism waning, stadium construction nears.
2 comments:
I was thinking the exact same thing this morning that the staff needs to finally admit it is not working with Ponder and it is time to move on before a hole is dug that is too deep to come out of. Frazier is stuck between a rock and a hard place with Spielman and Ponder. Frazier better disconnect from Ponder now before it's too late for him.
Maybe Bud Grant could do an intervention. It's obvious there is some serious denial in regards to the potential of slug number 7.
Love the blog. Glad you're back
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