Vikings vs Packers (again) for Jennings

[sdranger]

I wouldn't mind Jennings but is he a true #1? He would be on the Vikings roster. Sign him and trade our 25th to AZ for Fritz. They can move up and get the G man and we get our true #1. With Jennings and Fritz we just made a big leap.

[dead_poet]

Come on dead_poet, where are your updates??!

Cassel gave Jennings a hug at the Vikings' facility. Seifert called it "heartfelt."

There. Don't say I'm not doing my job.

[PurpleMustReign]

Cassel gave Jennings a hug at the Vikings' facility. Seifert called it "heartfelt."

There. Don't say I'm not doing my job.

Lol... but, we already knew that...

[TheCoolerOne]

Cassel gave Jennings a hug at the Vikings' facility. Seifert called it "heartfelt."

There. Don't say I'm not doing my job.

Read on Gosseling's Twitter that Eric Sugarman is following Jennings on twitter now. A red herring if I've ever seen one, but it is a fun one, nonetheless.

[Mothman]

Those are actually dead_poet's comments, not mine, although I agree with him.

Because not every move that a team makes must be designed to maximize the return immediately.

If one takes the long-term view, then sometimes it makes sense to lose the battle if it puts you in a better position to win the war. And sometimes yeah, you throw a player into a more difficult situation so you can see how he handles it and whether he's able to make something out of it. Better to do that earlier in his career and know you have a guy who wilts under pressure rather than find that out later.

There's always going to be pressure. There's no need to intentionally create more.

I agree that not every move a team makes must be designed to maximize return immediately. Putting a player like Fusco in a starting position is that sort of move, a clear attempt to develop a player by providing him with experience. However, the idea of intentionally giving a quarterback weaker receivers to see what he can do under more difficult circumstances doesn't make sense. Putting an inexperienced receiver out there because of his potential, in an effort to develop him, makes sense but there's no reason to make things harder on the QB just for the sake of it, to see how he will react. That isn't going to help him grow. It just makes it harder for him to succeed.

This is a quote from Sun Tzu from "The Art of War":

"Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them in to a deadly situation, and then they will live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory."

I think one can argue that there are two equally valid ways of looking at Mr. Ponder's development and what might work best for him. Last season, early in that season, what did he mostly do? He dropped back and winged super-safe passes to one of the best YAC receivers in the NFL. And that's how the Vikings offense plodded along. And after his super-safe option was no longer and those easy passes were gone, he really struggled.

It was only after a period of struggle, and of public lampooning, that he began to emerge.

I agree in an ideal world the Vikings, and Ponder, are better off with superior weapons at receiver. What I don't agree with, though, is that Ponder is going to develop faster or better if he has those. I think the opposite could be true, and I think last year's finish is solid evidence to back up my contention that Ponder might indeed turn into a better QB over the long term if he is more challenged over the short.

I believe challenges can definitely help a QB get better but there are challenges aplenty for any NFL QB. I don't think Ponder became more successful later in the season simply because he had passed through the "fire" of that period of struggle but I didn't see that struggle as a QB simply having problems with his game either. It coincided with the o-line's weakest performances of the season and not coincidentally, Ponder's emergence began when the pass protection improved and Musgrave started making adjustments to how they were using their limited group of receivers. Ponder reacted to those changes, found his confidence and improved. Some of the improvement came from him and some of it was due to changes around him (improved pass blocking, AD getting to 100% and playing like he was at 200%, Simpson getting healthier the last few weeks, etc.).

Better receivers will only help Ponder's development. If he drops back, makes his read and actually sees an open receiver to throw to, then throws a completion, that's going to help him more than dropping back, looking for an open receiver, not seeing one and being forced to buy time, scramble and throw under pressure or throw the ball away. I doubt there's a QB or coach in the league who would agree that putting inferior weapons around a QB helps him develop. Most of them would probably agree that dealing with adversity can be helpful because it encourages problem-solving but that adversity should come from the opposition, not from within. Intentionally surrounding a QB with inferior complementary players because you think that would make him better would be a disservice to the QB and the team.

[J. Kapp 11]

I wouldn't mind Jennings but is he a true #1? He would be on the Vikings roster. Sign him and trade our 25th to AZ for Fritz. They can move up and get the G man and we get our true #1. With Jennings and Fritz we just made a big leap.

Larry Fitzgerald?

He makes $16.1 million a year.

[mondry]

Larry Fitzgerald?

He makes $16.1 million a year.

Yeah, I didn't make the effort to post it but that's why there is zero chance of fitz, he makes more than anyone besides calvin heh.

[Delaqure]

I hate being a pessimist but I'm going to be. We won't get Jennings Just because we are the Vikings and want him.

[PurpleMustReign]

I'm guessing he won't sign. The Vikings will probably be too stubborn over a small amount of money or something.

[Demi]

Good, we don't need an almost 30 year old beat up wide receiver that will be done before we're competing for anything other than the last wild card spot.

[Orion]

agreed
grab Cruz and stop wasting time on a 30 yr old guy who has never played all 16 games.

Cruz ain't leaving the Giants.

[marty264]

Done deal

Adam Schefter writes.

Greg Jennings reached agreement with...the Vikings.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status ... 0454298624

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Done deal

Adam Schefter writes. https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status ... 0454298624

HELL YEAH!

[PurpleMustReign]

I will believe it fully when it is announced... But if this true, welcome to Minnesota, Greg Jennings!

[PurpleMustReign]

DAMN, well great now our #1 wr will play half a season AGAIN. way to go Spielman. I hope the Sugarman gave Jennings a great look over, otherwise we just got screwed.

What?