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.
Vikings draft Christian Ponder
Posted by: under Quarterbacks, The draft, Vikings, Leslie Frazier, Leslie Frazier, Vikings rookies Updated: April 28, 2011 - 8:28 PM
The Vikings, in a surprise, took Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick in the draft.
Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert were all gone by the time the Vikings went on the board.
Here was the report we ran in last Sunday's paper in a feature on quarterbacks.
Christian Ponder, Florida State
Height/weight: 6-2/229
Upside: Another intelligent player — he earned his undergraduate degree in 2½ years — with good intangibles. Showed his toughness last season by playing despite a bruised triceps, a ruptured right bursa sac and a concussion.
Downside: Suffered a Grade-3 separation of his throwing (right) shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery nine games into the 2009 season. Also has a tendency to make curious decisions at times.
Statistically: Completed 184 of 299 passes
(61.5 percent) for 2,044 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games as a senior.
Getting to know you: A day before working out Newton, the Vikings brass made a stop in Tallahassee to put Ponder through a private session. He is considered a very good fit for a West Coast offense, but it is still not known how much of that system new Vikings coordinator Bill Musgrave will retain.
We'll have more on the choice and team reaction after a quick press conference with coach Leslie Frazier and VP Rick Spielman.
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