vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Christian Ponder named as first VCF Rookie of the Year
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Off the field, Vikings, Leslie Frazier, Leslie Frazier Updated: June 13, 2012 - 1:36 PM
Quarterback Christian Ponder has been named the inaugural winner of the Vikings Children's Fund Rookie of the Year Award, an honor conceived by head coach Leslie Frazier to recognize a first-year player for the way he carries himself on and off the field.
The new award, with a heavy focus on community involvement, will be given annually going forward. And the announcement that Ponder is being recognized as the 2011 recipient was made this afternoon at the team's golf tournament at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove. Ponder will receive a trophy and a $5,000 donation will be made in his name to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital.
"I knew coming into the league, wherever I was going to get drafted, I was going to try to [immerse] myself into the community where I was living," Ponder said. "And Minnesota has been so great to me, I wanted to do as much as possible to give back. And there are so many opportunities to do that. Especially when you're a Minnesota Viking, people want to have you out all the time. It's gun. I really enjoy doing it."
Frazier said he believes Ponder's charisma and extracurricular involvement can be important to setting a tone with the team going forward. The Vikings' coach also felt strongly about creating the VCF Rookie of the Year award.
"I was really surprised when I got here that this wasn't done," he said. "Most places you recognize the top rookie on your team each year, whether you do that internally or externally. And it was something we talked about with the Wilfs and they agreed it was a good idea."
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| Minnesota - LP: V. Worley | 3 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - WP: P. Maholm | 8 |
| Cincinnati - WP: A. Simon | 7 | FINAL |
| NY Mets - LP: B. Parnell | 4 |
| Los Angeles - WP: H. Ryu | 9 | FINAL |
| Milwaukee - LP: W. Peralta | 2 |
| Oakland - LP: J. Parker | 1 | FINAL |
| Texas - WP: R. Wolf | 3 |
| Arizona - LP: T. Cahill | 1 | FINAL |
| Colorado - WP: J. De La Rosa | 4 |
| Washington - WP: T. Clippard | 2 | FINAL |
| San Francisco - LP: J. Affeldt | 1 |
| Tampa Bay - LP: C. Ramos | 3 | FINAL |
| Toronto - WP: A. Loup | 4 |
| Chicago Cubs | 0 | Top 8th Inning |
| Pittsburgh | 1 |
| Detroit | 9 | Delayed |
| Cleveland | 5 |
| NY Yankees | 2 | Top 7th Inning |
| Baltimore | 6 |
| Seattle | 1 | Bottom 8th Inning |
| LA Angels | 7 |
| Philadelphia | 3 | Bottom 8th Inning |
| Miami | 0 |
| Boston | 2 | Top 4th Inning |
| Chicago WSox | 1 |
| Kansas City | 1 | Bottom 4th Inning |
| Houston | 2 |
| St. Louis - T. Lyons | 9:10 PM |
| San Diego - B. Smith |
| Indiana | 39 | 2nd Qtr 2:36 |
| Miami | 34 |
| Pittsburgh | 3 | 3rd Prd |
| Ottawa | 2 |
| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| 2013 preseason | ||||
| Aug 9 - vs. Houston | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 16 - at Buffalo | 6 pm | |||
| Aug 25 - at San Francisco | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee | 7 pm | |||
| 2013 regular season | ||||
| Sep 8 - at Detroit | Noon | |||
| Sep 15 - at Chicago | Noon | |||
| Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland | Noon | |||
| Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London) | Noon | |||
| Oct 6 - Bye | ||||
| Oct 13 - vs. Carolina | Noon | |||
| Oct 21 - at. NY Giants | 7:40 pm | |||
| Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay | 7:30 pm | |||
| Nov 3 - at Dallas | Noon | |||
| Nov 7 - vs. Washington | 7:25 pm | |||
| Nov 17 - at Seattle | 3:25 pm | |||
| Nov. 24 - at Green Bay | Noon | |||
| Dec 1 - vs. Chicago | Noon | |||
| Dec 8 - at Baltimore | Noon | |||
| Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia | Noon | |||
| Dec 22 - at Cincinnati | Noon | |||
| Dec 29 - vs. Detroit | Noon |
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