We've said for weeks on the "Around the League Podcast" that Christian Ponder would lose his starting job before the season ended. Adding Josh Freeman makes it crystal clear the Minnesota Vikings aren't sitting still at quarterback.
Debate: What's the Vikings' plan?
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told reporters Monday that Freeman won't be in the mix to start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers passer will have a chance to compete for the lead role before long, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling.
"We think (Freeman will) be able to help us," Frazier said. "To what degree, only time will tell."
Ponder practiced Monday and will start against Carolina if he's healthy, according to Frazier. If Ponder isn't ready, Matt Cassel will make his second consecutive appearance. Frazier added that Ponder still has a bright future with the Vikings, but he emphasized that it didn't require much of a sales job to lure in Freeman.
So what was Freeman told? That he'd need to fend off Ponder and Cassel from the bottom rung up? We doubt it.
The Vikings have seen enough of Ponder to know what he is. It won't be long before he's sitting for good -- probably in favor of Cassel on Sunday, and Freeman after that.
He's no wonderboy, but Freeman has intrigued the Vikings, whose actions -- not words -- speak the truth about what's coming next.
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