The Minnesota Vikings traded up to draft Teddy Bridgewater at the end of the first round in this years NFL Draft but have maintained that they would be fine with him starting the season as a backup.
Matt Cassel was re-signed by the Vikings in the offseason and the 32-year-old has led the Vikings first-team for much of OTAs.
Part of Cassel’s position at the top of the depth chart can be attributed to offensive coordinator Norv Turner who tried to convince the Browns to pick him up prior to the 2013 season.
“I think that would have been at the time a good move for us. I gave my evaluation (for the Browns to sign Cassel). I thought he would have fit…Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t,” said Turner via the Pioneer Press.
While Cassel is expected to enter training camp as the Vikings starter it may be in name only. Head coach Mike Zimmer has been impressed for what he has seen out of Bridgewater thus far.
“He’s a worker. He wants to be really, really good,” Zimmer said Thursday. “He’s kind of feeling his way a little bit around the guys, which that will come in time. He understands he’s a young guy; he will keep going and progressing in that way, the more comfortable he feels around everybody, but I like him a lot. He’s going to be a good football player for us.”
“Right now, I’m just learning from Matt.” Bridgewater said. “He’s a veteran right now, and I notice the things that he’s doing when he’s in the huddle. I’m taking notes from him and Christian also. Those guys have had past success.”
While Christian Ponder is on the Vikings roster the quarterback competition will come down to Cassel and Bridgewater.
“Those guys have made it to the playoffs and led teams to the playoffs so it’s very interesting to learn from those guys, learn the mental focus and mental approach to the game rather than what they can do physically. I’ve just been taking notes from those guys and trying to make myself a better teammate also.”
