The Vikings have vowed not to forget aboutChristian Ponder, but the 2011 first-round pick realizes he's the odd man out in Minnesota's quarterback room.
Ponder hasn't been getting as many reps as incumbent starter Matt Cassel and No. 32 overall pickTeddy Bridgewater during offseason practices.
"We'll see how it plays out once it goes to training camp," Ponder said via the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "but obviously there's an agenda to try to get Teddy ready, and Cassel's the starter right now."
Although Cassel will enter camp atop the depth chart, the Vikingshope Bridgewater can close the gap by the end of the preseason action.
"(Bridgewater) is good," Ponder added. "He's got a great arm, and he's very accurate. He spins the ball really well. He's picking up things pretty quickly. I like him a lot."
By the time training camp ends, the Vikings will be concentrating on getting Cassel and Bridgewater ready for Week 1. That will leave Ponder dangling in the wind, a candidate for trade or release.
"It's not awkward -- I understand what's going on," Ponder said. "I had some opportunities that I didn't take full advantage of. If I would have played better, I wouldn't be in the situation here right now. We'll see how it plays out -- football's a crazy game."
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the heroes talk "Hard Knocks" before delving into a new batch of rookie whispers.
