Vikings cut Longwell

The writing was clearly on the wall even before last week's NFL Draft that Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell was considered expendable by a team committing itself to a youth movement. On Monday, the Vikings released the 16-year veteran kicker.

Head coach Leslie Frazier stated, “Ryan has meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off the field over the past six seasons. We wish him all the best in the future and thank him for his service to the Minnesota Vikings.”

The move came a week after the Vikings drafted Georgia kicker Blair Walsh in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, and after the Vikings held a three day rookie mini-camp over the weekend in which it was reported Walsh performed well at.

Longwell, 37, played six seasons with the Vikings after spending the first nine years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He has played in every one of his team's regular-season games -- 240 straight. He recorded 633 points during his six-year tenure with the Vikings, third in franchise history behind wide receiver Cris Carter and kicker Fred Cox.

Last year, Longwell converted 22 of 28 field-goal attempts and ranked near the bottom of the league in touchbacks. He had three seasons and $7 million left on a four-year contract he signed last summer that included a $3.5 million signing bonus. He was due to make $1.75 million salary this season.

Longwell thanked Vikings fans on Twitter, stating "You've been awesome to me and my family. God Bless!"

Walsh left college as the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Conference history, but he slumped his senior year and made only 21 of 35 field goals.

What is Ponder talking about?

In an interview with Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder discussed the drafting of USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the fourth-overall pick. On the topic of his tendency last season to gawk at an incoming pass rush, Ponder offered the following:

"A lot of time last year, it didn't necessarily have to do with the protection.  A lot of times I wasn't comfortable getting to my third, fourth reads, checking the ball down. Instead of just checking it down when a guy is wide open, I'd just run." 

What? If it "didn't necessarily" have anything to do with a lack of adequate pass protection then why would he not be "comfortable" making his progressions? If not due to blocking deficiencies why else would a quarterback prefer to run with the ball rather than check it down to a wide open receiver (as if there is ever an excuse not to throw to a wide open receiver)? The statement, of course, sounds exactly like something a quarterback would utter so as not to throw his offensive line under the bus. But, hold on, he continues:

"That's something I have to get away from. It's easy to break the habit. It's just going to make it so much better having full confidence in the protection."

Well, now, there is that bus after all! For a player touted for his intelligence coming out of college, one would think that Ponder would be more capable of proffering two consecutive and corresponding comments that do not directly contradict each other.

The bottom line is that with the drafting of Kalil and a couple of wide receivers, to go along with the additions of John Carlson and Cannabis Simpson via free agency, Ponder's leash has gotten a lot shorter and he will be expected to take the proverbial next step in his development this coming season. If Ponder continues to exhibit happy feet in the pocket, truncate his progressions and stare down his intended target, no improvements along the offensive line will make the least bit of difference and, ultimately, the Vikings might be impelled to look at quarterbacks as soon as next season.