Vikings fans aren't the only folks who are curious to see what first-round pick Christian Ponder can do. Running back Adrian Peterson also is eager to get his first look at the quarterback.
That, of course, hasn't happened because of the ongoing NFL lockout.
"I really don't know much about the guy," Peterson told ESPN while visiting its headquarters in the middle of the month. "I've heard nothing but good things about him. I've watched him a little bit at Florida State. One thing I have noticed is he's smart with the ball, he's very accurate and just taking the surrounding cast we have as far as receivers -- Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, [Visanthe] Shiancoe -- I feel like he'll be able to do enough to get us there. We all have our part to do to contribute. I'm definitely going to do my part. So I'm going to do the best I can to make it easy on him [being as how] he's a first-year guy and we'll see how he responds."
As far as who will be the Vikings starting quarterback if and when the regular season gets underway, Peterson admits he has no idea.
"That's really a tough question," he said. "Obviously [Brett] Favre is retired, we've got some guys returning, Joe Webb. ... When you draft a quarterback [as high as Ponder] I'm sure you would assume that he's going to come in as the starter. The lockout is still in effect and it's still undetermined when the season is going to start. I don't know how we throw a young guy into the fire like that. To just start. To be able to sit here and tell you who exactly is going to start, it's a long stretch for me to pick. I'm sure whenever the lockout is lifted and we start where there is some type of training camp, the best player will be on the field."
