Zimmer on QB competition: It's a 3-horse race
The Vikings kicked off the first of three days of mandatory minicamp at Winter Park in Eden Prairie today.
Drawing the most attention, naturally, were the quarterbacks. Here are three statements that are completely false in head coach Mike Zimmer's mind.
- Matt Cassel will be the starting quarterback
- Teddy Bridgewater will be the starting quarterback
- Christian Ponder will be the starting quarterback
All three statements don't ring true because Zimmer validated the belief today that his quarterbacks are in an open competition to win the starting job. Most pundits were of the belief that only Cassel and Bridgewater were fighting for the job, while Ponder was on the outside looking in.
That's because, as ESPN notes, Cassel and Bridgewater got more work with the first team during organized team activities.
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This Zimmer quote from the Star Tribune.
“I want to give everyone an opportunity and make sure it’s a legitimate opportunity for all of them,” Zimmer said. “Then we’ll start narrowing down the reps as we get going. But it won’t be for a while.
“The thing I want to guard against the most is rushing into a decision where we make a decision quickly as opposed to making the correct decision. Our main focus now is making the correct decision not so much for the fans or the media or anybody else on the football team.”
Watch Zimmer's full press conference at Vikings.com.
Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper writes that the longer it takes to name a starter, the more likely Bridgewater will the guy.
According to the Pioneer Press, the Vikings have perfect attendance at minicamp. Rookie linebacker Anthony Barr and rookie defensive end Scott Crichton are getting their first real work with the team since they left OTAs early to finish college classes.
