Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Leslie Frazier is in one of those situations where he knows he’s lying, we know he’s lying, he knows we know he’s lying, but for some reason, he decides to tell the lie anyway. After Minnesota signed Josh Freeman to a one-year deal worth roughly $3 million, Frazier said, “Christian still has a bright future here with our football team.”
Unless he considers being a backup a bright future with the team, he is clearly full of it here. There is nothing Frazier can say that will speak louder than the recent actions of the Vikings. Few things can send more of a message that a team doesn’t have confidence in their quarterback than signing another QB midseason, and telling that QB he will have the chance to earn the starting position.
Freeman is the second quarterback Minnesota has brought in to compete with Christian Ponder for the starting job. Matt Cassel’s signing in March could have been interpreted as a move for insurance, but with Freeman joining the bunch midseason, it’s now clear that the Vikings have no confidence in their 12th overall draft selection from 2011.
Frazier doesn’t have to sugarcoat it. These are grown men who make millions of dollars so there is no reason to baby them. Ponder is in huge trouble. If he doesn’t blow up in the next couple of games, he can count on losing his job to Freeman. The fans will definitely start applying the pressure if Ponder can’t at least come away with a win in his next start.
Aaron Charles is a Kansas City Chiefs writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on twitter @aaroncharleskc or add him to your network on Google
