NFL Rumors: Vikings refuse to name starting quarterback
By Bryan Rose
It’s been said that while the Minnesota Vikings don’t want to rush rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, they’d be fine with him winning the starting duties out of camp, assuming he deserved it.
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Of course, in recent days we’ve heard little regarding Bridgewater being linked to the starting job but rather Matt Cassel, who has essentially been anointed by many local media pundits as the Vikings starting signal caller. The fact that he’s received the vast majority of first-string reps hasn’t done much for the idea of Bridgewater starting either, though head coach Mike Zimmer refuses to give Cassel the official nod, stating that Minnesota will tab their starter after training camp.
“I want to give everybody an opportunity and make sure that it’s a legitimate opportunity for all of them,” Zimmer stated Tuesday after Minnesota opened their mandatory minicamp. “Then we’ll start narrowing down the reps as we get going. But it won’t be for a while.”
It’s really not a bad strategy for Zimmer as he doesn’t want to give Bridgewater the impression that he can’t win the job, even if it’s Cassel who has the early lead in the eyes of many.
There’s also the idea of Christian Ponder coming away with the starting quarterback job, though, that seems extremely unlikely as the Vikings would be better served with Cassel or Bridgewater under center. The most likely scenario for Ponder, barring injury, is either being released or traded for scraps before the start of the regular season.