July 31, 2011

Vikings arrive in Mankato

By Chad Courrier

Free Press Staff Writer
The Mankato Free Press

Sun Jul 31, 2011, 05:52 PM CDT

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2011
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Ponder, Webb and McNabb: Who will be the Vikings starting quarterback?

The Minnesota Vikings enter training camp with three quarterbacks carrying three very different backgrounds.

Christian Ponder: The new kid on the block. First-round draft choice out of Florida State.

Joe Webb: The incumbent. Played in the final four games last season, including starting the last two. Webb will forever be known as the quarterback who stepped in when Brett Favre’s consecutive starts streak ended.

Donovan McNabb: The veteran addition. The Vikings announced Friday their trade for McNabb from the Washington Redskins for a sixth-round draft pick. McNabb’s QB rating and TD passes last season – his only one in Washington – were the lowest he’s had since his rookie season of 1999.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said Friday that McNabb will be the team’s starting quarterback, barring “unforeseen circumstances.” McNabb agreed.

Earlier in the week, however, Ponder – when the McNabb deal had been reported – tweeted: “Excited to have McNabb join. Will learn a lot from a Pro Bowler. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still fighting to start week 1!”

Rice’s departure leaves question marks at wide receiver

Quite simply, Sidney Rice got paid. Quite honestly, the Vikings’ options to replace him leave much to be desired.

Despite playing just six games last season and catching only 17 passes following hip surgery, the free agent Rice was given a five-year, $41 million deal by the Seattle Seahawks.

His departure leaves Percy Harvin as the team’s only known starter at wide receiver.

The Vikings also have Greg Camarillo, Jaymar Johnson and Bernard Berrian back from last season, though Berrian could be released.

They have added former Chicago Bears receiver Devin Aromashodu, whose career highlight is a game-winning TD catch for the Bears in OT of a 2009 game against the Vikings. He caught just 10 passes all of last season. The Vikes also added Michael Jenkins on Saturday.

Salary cap woes hover over team’s ability to add veterans

The salary cap is back with the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement following a one-year hiatus. ESPN reported at the end of the lockout that the Vikings were $5.1 million over the reported $120 million cap. The Vikings have since released defensive back Madieu Williams and defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy to alleviate cap concerns, but the addition of McNabb likely has the Vikings near the cap again.

A story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last week suggested that signing running back Adrian Peterson – who is in the final year of his contract – or linebacker Chad Greenway – recipient of the team’s franchise tag – to long-term deals would give the team some short-term help.

Will this be the last training camp in Minnesota Vikings history?

There has been little good news surrounding the Vikings’ pursuit of a new stadium. And that type of silence speaks volumes regarding the team’s future in Minnesota.

The Vikings are entering the final year of their lease with the Metrodome, and team officials have continually said that they don’t plan on signing a new lease to remain there unless a new stadium is on the horizon.

That puts the Vikings and the financially strapped state of Minnesota in tough positions. Just as it did for the Minnesota Twins, a good season on the field could help the Vikings’ chances. Another disappointing season could spell doom for pro football in the Upper Midwest.

Tags:
sports, vikings, football