Matt Cassel's return to the Vikings sets up so many juicy possibilities.
The team is now one signing away from putting the band back together. If they can just re-sign Josh Freeman, they'll have Cassel, Freeman and Ponder all under contract, negating the chance of any of their competitors stealing the magic formula of the 2013 Minnesota Vikings, or what Vikings receivers called, "Hunger Games: Catching Nothing."
The team can now lure fans to buy tickets to the next two seasons. Imagine: Getting to watch Cassel and Ponder in subzero weather at an outdoor college stadium. The price of one game: $100. The price of two games: $50.
OK, that's not fair. The Cassel signing is rational. He played pretty well last year, and handled himself like a pro even when forced to watch Ponder throw at the feet of receivers and Freeman throw at the feet of concessionaires.
What's most important about the Cassel signing is that it allows the Vikings to maneuver. With Cassel capable of starting or relieving, the Vikings can cut Ponder if they want. They can spend a high draft pick on their latest quarterback of the future and know they won't have to rush him into action.
And here's a thought that might infuriate Vikings fans desperate to draft and develop their own Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers: The Vikings have done pretty well signing veteran quarterbacks. Their Plan Bs have worked out better than a lot of teams' Plan As.
Before Denny Green arrived, the Vikings tried to develop their own quarterbacks. Green's impatience changed the organizational philosophy.
When he ran off the promising Rich Gannon in favor of the perplexing Sean Salisbury, Green was forced to scramble. His teams were competitive enough that he never had a chance to draft a blue-chip quarterback at the top of the draft, and competitive enough that he was always searching for the next quarterback who might immediately take him to the playoffs.
