Fran Tarkenton Talks About Christian Ponder
This interesting tidbit was in St. Paul's Pioneer Press yesterday. Apparently, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton likes what he sees from rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. In a season that hasn't given fans a lot of hope, hearing that Tarkenton thinks Ponder has what it takes to be a good NFL quarter back for years to come is a much-needed shot of hope that the franchise has a critical piece of the puzzle in place so it can build for the future. Vikings fans can use all the hope and cheer they can get this season.
NOTE: Cobra312004 posted a FanShot about this yesterday. I'm late to the party.
6 months ago
Skol Girl
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Don't really care much for Tarkenton
A lot of what he says is so out there and stupid. Just because he played football does not mean he knows football. While I agree Ponder has the potential to be a pretty decent QB, I do not understand why anyone actually cares what he says
Wipe your nose kid...
What are you, 5? Tark was the most prolific QB of his time, holding all the NFL QB records when he retired. He designed and called all his own plays in the huddle, something quarterbacks today could only dream of doing. He literally invented “scrambling”, turning it into the art form it is today.
What do you mean “because he played football does not mean he knows football”? WTF is that? I havent the slightest idea what you mean. The man is in the Hall for heavens sake. He knows as much about football as anyone who has ever walked on a field. Read para above.
You may disagree with some of the things he says, which is fine, everyone has an opinion – but when he says Ponder has it, trust me, its a very informed observation. I think he see’s that Ponder is a lot like he was, and has the same potential – and I agree.
If you had watched all of Tarks games, like me, you would know how great of a player he was. But dont feel bad, its not your fault you are young and didnt have a chance to see it first hand. On the positive side tho, you didnt have to feel the heartbreak of all those superbowl losses.
“A pity youth is wasted on the young” – Henry Wooton
Having listened to everything he was saying when favre was destroying all his records and
having the best year a vikings QB has ever had, I lost all respect for him a person as he just came off as a bitter bitter old man, Jealous of losing his youth and someone being better than he was.
“How would you like Ray Nitschke in his last year [playing for] the Vikings, or I retire, and go play for the Packers. I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail.” – anyone who wishes someone would fail is just… well like Fran Tarkenton i guess.
Also, While I thankfully was not alive for those super-bowl defeats, my mom was a cheerleader for them during Superbowls 8&9 and had to suffer through it in person.
by viking_#28 on Dec 9, 2011 6:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Generation Gap...
I agree with you that Tark did come off sounding bitter about the Favre situation. I can understand fans thinking that, as I thought thats what it seemed like also.
But I understand how Tarks feels about that, as I to am from a generation where Loyalty and Trust were important character issues. This doesnt seem to hold today, as it seems like its a free for all. There wasnt free agency like there is today, and players from that era held loyalty to a team in high regard, unlike today, where money is numero uno, and loyalty is second chair, if that.
I felt that Tark was a bit worried that Favre might take the team to the big dance, and actually win it ! This he was not able to do, and he didnt want any hired gunslinger coming in and taking his team to the promised land that he had worked so hard to do but couldnt quite pull it off. He would however, love to see Ponder do it, as he is a viking draft pick, and our future, and a kid he see’s himself in…
I hope I didnt speak to much for Tark, but if he doesnt like it, he can come on in and tell us how he does feel !!! Come on down Tark !!
I hope Ponder does as well....
I was just really put off by the way he would talk about QBs. To me it did not matter Favre was a packer because at that time he was now a Viking.
Generation gap, indeed!!
Those of us who watched the vikes back in the 60’s and 70’s heard Tark’s latest complaints about Farve a bit differently than the younger fans, I think. Day1 is 100% correct — the times were different back then. It’s hard to give you the perspective without sounding silly.
But…
Recall all the turmoil about Lebron and “The Decision” and the hurt in Cleveland? If Tark had retired and then joined the Packers to take them (almost) to the SUper Bowl, it would have been far worse — back then, at least.
Imagine Larry Bird retiring from the Celtics, and then joining the Lakers. Not Karl Malone, mind you (he actually did it, without the “retiring” part). But Bird. It jst would not fly. Especially back in the 60’s and 70’s. I guess it would have been like Havilcek reiring and then joining the Lakers. It just WAS NOT DONE back then.
Babe Ruth got traded. He didn’t do it on his own volition. If he had? Hmmm…..
TiggerSr
Some more modern examples along those lines...
Pujols to the Cubs, Mauer to the White Sox, Manning to the Patriots, Kobe to the Celtics come to mind
not many bright bulbs here anyways
It’s just like someone having an internet name like viking_#28, he thinks he knows anything about football. But hey, his mom was a cheerleader….shhh, lets listen to what he has to say. These kids get to write things here but don’t or can’t back it up with valid points and that is the way of this generation. I don’t really care for Tark that much personality wise…but he is one of the greats, period. Everyone has an opinion and yes, Fran Tarkenton’s will hold some weight because…he does know something about the game.
What I really want to know is if numbnuts wasn’t alive for superbowls 8 and 9…how was he able to suffer through it in person?? I’ll assume he meant his mother told him the stories. Oh well, that was actually the most understandable thing he wrote.
Wow. Great post. Great attitude
Way to a be a rude jackwad to a fellow Viking fan and poster who had the misfortune to have a different opinion than you. What happen? Forget to take your meds today?
::: shakes head :::
in the fetal position sobbing
According to you I can have my own opinion also. Really I’m just so tired of the nonsensical and negative posts I read here that I jump down the throats of the reallt lame ones I guess. It is my fault for reading them and letting them get to me. I have been away from Minnesota for so long (trapped in 49er and raider land) that I hunger for Minnesota sports. The dumbass remark wasn’t really for the guy you are so vehemently defending…more for all the other of the 75%ers. Actually I thought the other guy was meaner than I was.
Thank you though for reminding me about my meds.
First off,
welcome to DN. I hope you enjoy yourself and become a productive member of this community.
But stop with the name calling. if you’re not familiar with the community guidelines, you might want to read them:
I get that a lot of people who wander over here from message board sites where insulting is almost a prerequisite for posting don’t understand that we try to be different here.
We welcome and value all kinds of different opinions, but we don’t tolerate bagging on other posters just because they have a different opinion.
So stop with the personal insults, or your time here will be about as long as Brock Lesnar’s was with the Vikings.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
I'm sorry, I thought you knew
You may want to sit down for this….Mike Tice was fired, too.
"Go hard. I mean, like relentless. I want a bunch of coaches that coach like their hair’s on fire, and I want a football team that goes for four to six seconds (per play) with relentless effort." OSU Coach Urban Meyer.
Fran the man!
This could sound outrageous, especially to fans from the very early viking days…but to me ponder has alot of frans game style and i believe he will be very sucessful before very long! To think he is playing this well, with our garbage oline and mostly inept receivers!
Not going to say 2012 we will be soup bowl contenders, but as this team reloads with fresh talent it will be very interesting watching this kid develop into a special player SKOL!!!
by natedawg2133 on Dec 9, 2011 3:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Legitimate comparison
I have been saying ever since the Bears game that Ponder reminds of both Tark and Steve Young when he plays. It’s his style. I am NOT saying that he will be even close to their level when it comes to results or longevity. Bothg Tark and Younf were mong the best ever to play the position, period. Ponder may never make the Pro Bowl, for all I know.
But his style is very similar, in my judgment. Quick in the pocket without panicking - Ponder’s scrambles are almost always productive, it seems to me. Productive -- buying more time to find a receiver and getting off a good throw OR running for positive yardage. More so than most, clearly above average. Tark and Young were among the best ever at that. Ponder has a long way to go when it comes to completion percentage and clutch performances, but his style is sure to remind Tark of, well, Tark. No wonder he likes what he sees. If there is a reaosn to discount what Tark says about Ponder, that is it — NOT because one thinks Tark is a jealous old a-hole.
TiggerSr
Wow.
Tarkenton doesn’t say things to please the crowd or public opinion. He speaks his mind, even if that pisses everyone off. He didn’t have to say what he did, so I believe him.
It’s no secret that I’ve always been a huge fan of Tark, and I still am. I don’t agree with everything he’s said, but one thing can’t be denied; He’s a Hall of Fame QB because he earned his place there, if there’s one perspective that he knows, it’s the QB.
If Fran Tarkenton says that Ponder has the best potential out of all the QBs in this draft, and that’s what I just heard him say, I’ll take that to the bank.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
Totally agree with Viking_#28's remark about Fran - I don't really give a crap what he thinks
They guys’ remarks about Favre were totally off-base during our awesome season and they just came across as nothing more than jealous stupidity.
Great as he was for us, I don’t see the point of us having to care what he thinks, really.
And I’m not some young kid who doesn’t appreciate the ‘history’ either.
This is big
Very significant coming from Tarkenton. Yes, this is one of the greatest QB’s of all time, and yes, he says what he thinks.
Very encouraging!
Dumbasses!!
about 75% of the comments here and I may be being generous, make me feel like Red Foreman….I want to kick them in the keyster and call them a DUMBASS!!!
Fran - +
Fran did come off as negative and bitter with BF so maybe he is trying to show that he can be positive. Love him when he played. In think Ponder is doing the best he can given he has no oline and no #1 or #2 reciever.
Good to see the long ball two weeks ago for TD.
Reminds me a little of Tommy Kramer.
Keep on talking Fran.
* Long ball on 4th down!
Very bold throw. That’s one you have to make or you’ll be second guessed for weeks. Clutch throw.
Good Old Fran
I gotta give him credit for speaking truthfully – can’t be said for too many public figures. The one knock I have on him is he usually has to remind people about how good he was, just gets kind of annoying but I guess to younger non-viking fans he might not be well known.
He thinks Ponder and Musgrave are good, I agree with him there they just need time together like Fran said. We are talking about a guy who held a lot of passing and running records at his retirement so even if I disagreed I would probably have to trust him anyways, his track record is stellar.
you play to WIN THE GAME, that's the great thing about sports
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