BigTex
Don't mess with Texas
Christian Ponder's targets don't show for workouts
June 2, 2011 8:42 AM
By Brad Biggs
Surely, the attendance – or lack of attendance – on the first day of player-run practices for the Minnesota Vikings isn’t a reflection on the new quarterback.
Christian Ponder, the team’s first-round draft pick, has been looking forward to working out with his new teammates. The plan was set for those sessions to be held in Florida, at the IMG facility in Bradenton, but when things got rolling Ponder didn’t have many of the players you’d expect for him to target.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, wide receivers Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian, along with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Lorenzo Booker failed to show. The kicker here is all had been expected. All apparently had a variety of reasons for not making it .
Granted, Bradenton is a long way from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but Ponder was left to throw to targets the fans have to hope aren’t his primary reads whenever his chance does arise to play.
“I thought it would be hard and probably should have had better planning," Ponder. "We'll definitely do it again and hopefully a bunch more guys will show up. I talked to a few guys, some other guys we couldn't get a hold of. We got some good work in. To be around some of the guys was good for me.”
Tight end Kyle Rudolph, the team’s second-round draft pick, was in attendance. Another workout is scheduled for today.
Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs
Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
Maybe Ponder should have brought a boat!!
Tex
June 2, 2011 8:42 AM
By Brad Biggs
Surely, the attendance – or lack of attendance – on the first day of player-run practices for the Minnesota Vikings isn’t a reflection on the new quarterback.
Christian Ponder, the team’s first-round draft pick, has been looking forward to working out with his new teammates. The plan was set for those sessions to be held in Florida, at the IMG facility in Bradenton, but when things got rolling Ponder didn’t have many of the players you’d expect for him to target.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, wide receivers Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian, along with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Lorenzo Booker failed to show. The kicker here is all had been expected. All apparently had a variety of reasons for not making it .
Granted, Bradenton is a long way from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but Ponder was left to throw to targets the fans have to hope aren’t his primary reads whenever his chance does arise to play.
“I thought it would be hard and probably should have had better planning," Ponder. "We'll definitely do it again and hopefully a bunch more guys will show up. I talked to a few guys, some other guys we couldn't get a hold of. We got some good work in. To be around some of the guys was good for me.”
Tight end Kyle Rudolph, the team’s second-round draft pick, was in attendance. Another workout is scheduled for today.
Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs
Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune
Maybe Ponder should have brought a boat!!
Tex
Booker def should have been there... and had the rookie carry his bags and buy the 'group' donuts in the morning.
