Tom Powers: Vikings could've, should've waited to pick a quarterback

Much too high to select this guy; sure Washington likely would have picked him at 16 after trading down with the way things were shaping up but the Vikings would have been wise to accept that, trade down and acquire additional picks, and explore other options and needs. Again better QB options on the horizon in next years' draft to look at, picking a FA like Bulger would have been perfectly serviceable until then; there is a reason why teams like the Pats, Steelers, Ravens, and now Packers field consistently good teams; because they do not reach for questionable players and maneuver wisely in spite of not normally having picks early in the rounds. Foolish teams like the Vikings only make it easy for them when they let good talent slip on by and gamble on players who do not grade out as well. I have completely lost interest in this team; go Broncos, go Pats, send this hopeless team somewhere else, and don't even think about using taxpayer money to fund a stadium for this lame-duck franchise.

On the bright side, with the Lions taking Suh last year and Fairley this year, the Vikings will know what it's like to have a legit first round talent in the backfield on passing downs this year.

Bottom line is the Vikings had to come away with a QB after the first 2 rounds. Childress, the QB guru, left us in a bad spot at the QB position. I liked Ponder better than all the QB's in this years class. ideally the Vikings would have traded down adding picks and taken Ponder a little later but no one was ready to trade. Ponder wouldn't have been there in the 2nd round and the Vikings had to reach. That's just the way it is. I think this is going to end up being a good move. Ponder may very well end up being the franchise QB we've been looking for. I think Ponder is going to be a very good QB for a long time. Go Vikings!

Grade: F

Spielman should be fired....Vikings last in Division

Worst 1st Round selection since Underwood. I mean, this is a horrible pick. A QB not expected to go until the 2nd round. Even before Mallett. Speilman could hinge his entire Vikings career on the success or failure of this young QB...Prince and Fairley were both still available with a wealth of incredible talent...the Vikings will finish last in the division.

He should change his name to Pounded because that is what is going to happen to him behind the Vikes pathetic line. The kid would have been there in round two and Dalton is going to be a much better pro. This pick is the beginning of the end for Rick.

Embarrassingly bad reach.

Articles like this one and the Comments that follow are all reasons why I am glad fans and sports writers/pundits don't own or coach NFL Football teams.

do they smoke pot or are they just stupid in the front office. Cartman from south park can do a better job

can i run the vikes

Try not to boo too loudly when Christian Ponder leads the Vikings to a winning record as a rookie. Especially when Cam Newton and all the other spread offense dudes are drowning under a tide of blitzes.

Great quarterback? Probably not. Good quarterback? Yes, immediately. Like most QB's, Ponder will pass better when he's not lying on his back, so let's hope the Vikings find some guys that will keep mean people away for at least three seconds.

Man, we STOLE that 2nd rounder with our 12th pick!
Fairly obvious who the Vikes should have drafted;
Can you imagine, for the next few years anyway, the
tandem of the boy named Suh & Fairly Obvious???
Could have gone right down as one of the Vikings great first
round picks... it was RIGHT THERE in front of their very
noses...perhaps it was just TOO OBVIOUS.
Heck, maybe we'll get lucky and Ponder will pan out.
When you're a Vikings fan, one must remain eternally
OPTIMISTIC.

Only time will tell.

This was the right pick. Christian Ponder is the best QB in the draft. He's the smartest and most pro ready QB, and everyone who is booing him now...don't try and jump on the bandwagon when he becomes the best QB vikings have had since tarkenton. Prince would have been a good pick had we not need a QB. But the Christian Ponder pick is a great pick now and it will be a even greater pick 5 years from now. All you doubters will eat your words.

JohnR wrote:

He should change his name to Pounded because that is what is going to happen to him behind the Vikes pathetic line. The kid would have been there in round two and Dalton is going to be a much better pro. This pick is the beginning of the end for Rick.

You obviously don't know anything about the draft. Ponder would have NOT been there in rd 2. You know why? The redskins passed on Blaine Gabbert at 10..why? Because they want Ponder. So they traded with the Jaguars to move down to 16 and were going to pick Ponder there had the vikings not spoil their game plan. If Shanahan whom I think knows a thing or two about QBs, would pass on Gabbert and want Ponder instead, I think that should speak volumes about the QB we just got. GO VIKES and GO Christian Ponder!

people can say that its a reach now but if Ponder turns out to be an star QB would it be a reach? I mean no one thought Jamarcus Russell was a reach at #1 overall, wouldn't you say that was a major reach knowing what we know now? You know whats a reach? Cam Newton at 1st overall. I hate to be a Panthers fan right now. They got the most over-rated QB and WE the vikings got the BEST Qb in the draft! Go Frazier and Spielman! Go VIkes

Well, I am a Joe Webb fan. Sure, he doesn't come with the hype, but he just gets results. Fine by me. If McNabb, or worse yet ,Young end up here, I will disown this franchise and the Wilf's especially. As far as Ponder goes, I guess we will see how (un)wise that decision was.

I just read that Prince made 0 interceptions all last year. Why would their be an entire field house of MN drunks booing that we passed this guy up? Me no comprehendo.

For all those Viking apologists on here who insist -- if only to give yourselves hope and a reason to get out of bed every day -- on looking at every move the Vikings make through rose-colored glasses and, consequently, not only do you feel compelled but obligated to attack and criticize anyone and everyone who does not necessarily share in your mindset or subscribe to your opinions that this organization can do no wrong, and therefore, ought to be given every benefit of the doubt when it comes to the decisions the Vikings "braintrust" make, I have but one question to ask you: what exactly in this team's fifty years of existence -- be it a feat, decision, or result -- can you point to that would remotely suggest the Vikings have a clue what they're doing?

This was brilliant. Put him in there and if he does good, it was a great move, If it doesn't, "LUCK" is on the vikings side, as in Andrew.