In a normal NFL offseason, the Vikings would have had months of development time with rookie QB Christian Ponder following the late April draft. Instead, this year, there was a lockout (remember that?) from March 11 to July 25.
He essentially lost three months of at least semi-regular time with the Vikings. The Vikings might have signed a veteran regardless; but without the lockout, would they have gone out and made the move to get someone like Donovan McNabb just a couple days after the lockout ended -- a QB they thought was starter-worthy? Or would they have seen enough of Ponder by then to feel comfortable thinking about having him be the starter from Day 1?
And if Ponder was the starter from Day 1, how much differently would this season have gone?
Your thoughts, please, in the comments.
