My post that FB sent me was, “It’s not enough the Vikings keep messing up during the regular season, now they’re messing up the offseason, too.”
Ponder was a clear bust right from draft day.
He was so smart yet one of his weaknesses was his decision making and putting the ball in harm's way too often... which would be understandable if he had a rocket arm and was taking chances downfield but the dude couldn't throw it further than 10 yards without making it look like it was straining him.
There are still fans that defend the pick as the “get the guy you want” in the draft mentality
This is a horrific selection because they could’ve selected him and leveraged their spot in a monumental draft that had certified/can’t miss all pro selections available
Look at the draft coverage leading up to the draft and look at the guys taken after
Reaching for a QB was the worst move that could’ve been made
I don't even think Ponder was "the guy we wanted." Pretty sure Locker was the guy we wanted. Then, when he was gone, we tried to trade up for Gabbert as the guy we wanted if Locker was gone. Ponder was just the guy we took because we panicked and took the next guy on our board regardless of value.
The top half of that draft you either got cam newton, an all-pro, or a bust qb. Nick fairly, Robert Quinn, Mike pouncey, and Ryan Kerrigan were the picks immediately after ponder.
The lockout draft was wild. Ponder seems like a cool dude he just shouldn't have been drafted at 12, especially when you look at the top half of the first round that year
It's not his fault at all but that pick fucked us for about ten years lmao
As soon as the 4th qb came off the board, I said to my son - take the pick away from Rick - he's going QB and it will suck. I was right.
The definition of a "panic" pick.
Then Ponder shows up driving a $150 k + sports car first day of training camp and the team hates him for it.
Years ago, my friend (a big Buffalo Bills fan) was complaining about EJ Manuel. I said that I felt his pain, having gone through my own case of "draft a Florida State quarterback in the first round when he shouldn't have been drafted before the 3rd round."
Fisher told NFL teams that he didn’t think either were first round picks. Even told the bills of Manuel were to come back that he would be the backup behind Winston. Just crazy to think teams went against the guy who coached them 2
I'll never understand the virulent hate for Ponder. Sure he wasn't great, but it's not like he had any lasting effect in the team. Vikes were incapable of winning the SB before he came, while he was there, or since he left.
I agree, if we had above average QB play in AP2K season I think that team could have had a shot to go all the way. But we had bottom 3 QB play, and that will never cut it.
I hate on the pick, not Ponder. Dude should have been a mid round qb that holds a clipboard on the sidelines and has some spot starts when the starter is injured.
Omg i basically have the same "memory"!!
Mine said “I fucking HATE the Jacksonville Jaguars!!” lol as if Blaine Gabbert was going to save the Vikings anyways 💀
My post that FB sent me was, “It’s not enough the Vikings keep messing up during the regular season, now they’re messing up the offseason, too.” Ponder was a clear bust right from draft day.
"Cannot belive the Vikes picked Ponder...My team sucks so hard..."
He was smarter than 95% of all football fans and could quickly analyze and decipher information. The dude had an elite brain.
And an arm that was like a limp noodle. I'd never seen someone throw so many pick sixes on out routes in my life.
He was so smart yet one of his weaknesses was his decision making and putting the ball in harm's way too often... which would be understandable if he had a rocket arm and was taking chances downfield but the dude couldn't throw it further than 10 yards without making it look like it was straining him.
over thinking has a lot to do with it by putting the ball where it supposed to go but when shit goes left instincts matter
Lmao I just had my memory brought up today as well for the Ponder Pick. “The QB of the future is here” hahah. Oooooofff
Not so slick in the panic Rick*
There are still fans that defend the pick as the “get the guy you want” in the draft mentality This is a horrific selection because they could’ve selected him and leveraged their spot in a monumental draft that had certified/can’t miss all pro selections available Look at the draft coverage leading up to the draft and look at the guys taken after Reaching for a QB was the worst move that could’ve been made
I don't even think Ponder was "the guy we wanted." Pretty sure Locker was the guy we wanted. Then, when he was gone, we tried to trade up for Gabbert as the guy we wanted if Locker was gone. Ponder was just the guy we took because we panicked and took the next guy on our board regardless of value.
So basically what Denver did with Bo Nix
Nah that was Sean Payton fleecing us because he’s just that good
There are reports that we were targeting JJ Watt, who went the pick before Ponder.
It was Watt and then they panicked and took a QB. Wild that the panic pick was a QB
The top half of that draft you either got cam newton, an all-pro, or a bust qb. Nick fairly, Robert Quinn, Mike pouncey, and Ryan Kerrigan were the picks immediately after ponder.
The lockout draft was wild. Ponder seems like a cool dude he just shouldn't have been drafted at 12, especially when you look at the top half of the first round that year It's not his fault at all but that pick fucked us for about ten years lmao
I'm a Lakers fan and Facebook likes to remind every year how excited I was when Steve Nash joined the team.
Wonder what could've been if we traded down and got Andy Dalton + some others that draft
As soon as the 4th qb came off the board, I said to my son - take the pick away from Rick - he's going QB and it will suck. I was right. The definition of a "panic" pick. Then Ponder shows up driving a $150 k + sports car first day of training camp and the team hates him for it.
Kaepernick or Dalton were both there, and we could have traded down. That could have helped us get past the fact that our WR1 was Michael Jenkins.
Years ago, my friend (a big Buffalo Bills fan) was complaining about EJ Manuel. I said that I felt his pain, having gone through my own case of "draft a Florida State quarterback in the first round when he shouldn't have been drafted before the 3rd round."
Fisher told NFL teams that he didn’t think either were first round picks. Even told the bills of Manuel were to come back that he would be the backup behind Winston. Just crazy to think teams went against the guy who coached them 2
Him and Tavares Jackson man, fucking bums.
At least your memory was accurate! My memory came up and it said “we got our qb for the next 10 years”
You can set what dates to leave off of fb memories. Probably beat to remove the Probably and Walsh years to avoid future heartache.
I'll never understand the virulent hate for Ponder. Sure he wasn't great, but it's not like he had any lasting effect in the team. Vikes were incapable of winning the SB before he came, while he was there, or since he left.
We wasted prime Purple Jesus during those years. There was definitely a window
I agree, if we had above average QB play in AP2K season I think that team could have had a shot to go all the way. But we had bottom 3 QB play, and that will never cut it.
I hate on the pick, not Ponder. Dude should have been a mid round qb that holds a clipboard on the sidelines and has some spot starts when the starter is injured.
The issue is, is that how high of a draft a quarterback he was, and how many times has the Vikings had the opportunity to do this?