Vikings turn to Josh Freeman as new starting quarterback

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Josh Freeman did not mention the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or their coach, Greg Schiano, by name. But the way he addressed his promotion as the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback Wednesday spoke volumes about how he ended up in his current position.

"Any time you step into a situation where you're the new guy, there's always kind of an awkward, getting-to-know you phase," said Freeman, who signed with the Vikings Oct. 8 and will start Monday night in a nationally televised matchup against the New York Giants.

"But I think that goes back to the character of this organization, just from top to bottom — a lot of quality people, people that are dedicated to winning first and foremost, but also being a quality human being off the field.

"It's been a smooth adjustment. The opportunity to come in here and just focus strictly on football, and this is a storied franchise. ... They do things the right way around here."

The Vikings signed Freeman, 25, five days after the Buccaneers released him in the wake of a benching and a public spat with Schiano, whom the NFL Players Association believes was behind a breach of Freeman's confidential medical information.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier revealed the plan to start Freeman over Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel, who led the Vikings past the Pittsburgh Steelers in London on Sept. 29 in place of injured Ponder but struggled in last Sunday's blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers.

"I like the things that he's done in his career, along with what he's done since he arrived here with our football team," Frazier said of Freeman.

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"The time that he's put in, how well he's adapted to our system, and I like his work ethic. He's done enough for us to say we want to give him this opportunity — which is something we had in mind when we acquired him. We think now is the time."

The 17th overall pick in the 2009 draft (and third quarterback, after Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez), Freeman once appeared on track to be the Bucs' face of the franchise. But he struggled in three starts this season, completing 45.7% of his passes with two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 59.3 passer rating before getting benched.

"Do I have a chip on my shoulder? Sure, I do," Freeman said. "But I think it's more deeply rooted than just the past six months, 12 months. It's just wanting to go out and be great, and even deeper than that, Leslie extended his hand, giving me an opportunity to come in here."

The plan was to ease Freeman into the offense. But Frazier said he could tell a week ago, when Freeman led a post-practice session with the Vikings' young players, that he might be ready sooner than later. Freeman said there's "no question" he'll be adequately prepared by Monday.

Frazier made the decision to go with Freeman two days ago, then consulted with general manager Rick Spielman and the team's owners, who signed off on sending their own former first-round pick, Ponder, to the bench.

"I don't want to pigeonhole Christian by any means," Frazier said. "But Josh — we're hoping that he does well. That's why we're putting him in the lineup."

Before Frazier made the announcement, Ponder said he wasn't sure if he would be given a chance to earn the job back.

Asked if he'd embrace a trade, Ponder said, "I don't know. I've got to figure out what's best for me and everything and for this team, and so I don't know if that's staying here or going somewhere else."

NOTE: Running back Adrian Peterson missed practice for personal reasons but should be back Thursday, Frazier said. Peterson's 2-year-old son, Tyrese Robert Doohen, died Friday as a result of alleged abuse. The boyfriend of the boy's mother, 27-year-old Joey Patterson, has been charged with aggravated assault on an infant and aggravated assault.



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