With the Chicago Bears destroying the Minnesota Vikings tonight 39-10, the Vikes O got some quality garbage time, and you know what that means- second stringer playing time.
Donovonn McNabb got pulled in favor of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, who made his NFL debut in the second half of Sunday night’s loss.
Ponder, the 12th overall pick out of Florida State, came in early in the fourth quarter and finished 12-18 for 99 yards.
(update: multiple sources report that Ponder will officially start Sunday vs. the Green Bay Packers.The much maligned McNabb had a decent game, completing 19 of 24 passes for 177 yards. With the Vikings struggling so mightily this season, #5 has been a very unpopular figure in Minnesota. Like I said in my game preview, everywhere McNabb has gone (Syracuse, Philadelphia, Washington) he’s had his fair share of very hash critics. Even wacko instigator Rush Limbaugh once used him as a springboard for one of his typical racist, African-American bashing rants.
So it’s a bit ironic that Ponder, not exactly a popular first-round draft pick when the choice was made last April, is now so warmly received. Ponder was “over-drafted” at No. 12 overall; much higher than his rounds 2-4 projection.
But then again writers on this site have been wondering if/when his ascension would come for some time. (Read that here)
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