Something to Ponder
- Bills Fanatics BF
- Aug 25, 2014
- 2 min read
Christian Ponder was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and has appeared in 36 games since. Compiling 6,436 yards passing, 38 touchdowns, 34 interceptions, while completing 60.2 percent of his passes and posting a modest passer rating of 77.3.
Ponders pedestrian play, combined with a horrible year for the Vikings in 2013 prompted the team to trade back into the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and select Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.
Some NFL trade rumors don’t have much juice, but Ponder hasn’t even been in the discussion for the starting job this summer in Minnesota. The new rookie quarterback has
been competing with Matt Cassel while Ponder wears the dreaded ball cap on the sidelines.
One place to look for such a move is Buffalo, where head coach Doug Marrone isn’t satisfied with the teams backup quarterback options. EJ Manuel’s poor play throughout this preseason and his history with knee injuries last season, has fans and likely coaches concerned. The Bills can’t expect to win many games if they’re forced to start Thad Lewis, Jeff Tuel, or Dennis Dixon for significant time this season.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Bills traded for a backup quarterback before the start of the season. Heck it would mark the 3rd year in a row they have done so.
In 2012 the Bills sent a 7th round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Tarvaris Jackson. Last
year, after Kevin Kolb’s career ending concussion, the Bills punctually sent reserve
linebacker Chris White to the Detroit Lions for Thad Lewis.
General Manager Doug Whaley will likely be on the lookout for help once again in 2014 and Christian Ponder just makes sense. Ponder isn’t a franchise quarterback, that much he’s proven. However, he isn’t a bad quarterback, just average. Unfortunately, average is better than anything the Bills have behind EJ Manuel right now, maybe even better than anything the Bills have, but that’s a conversation for another time. Like Manuel, Ponder played his college ball at Florida State.
The two are said to be close friends, so the potential addition of Ponder shouldn’t result in problems within the Bills locker room. Given his current status with the Vikings the trade
wouldn’t be incredibly costly. Perhaps a late conditional draft choice or even a player for player scenario.
Doug Whaley has been aggressive in the trade market during his short tenure as the Bills GM. At the very least the Bills should make a call. Just something to ponder heading into the final week of the preseason.
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