Greg Jennings does not know what the future holds for the Minnesota Vikings, but right now he knows that Matt Cassel is the best quarterback to finish out the season. The Vikings' offense has suffered through inconsistencies at the position as three different players have started under center. However, the wins have come at the hands of Cassel and Jennings is giving him the full endorsement.
Minnesota played upset in Week 15 beating the Philadelphia Eagles. Without running backs Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart the pressure was on Cassel to step up and perform. Earning the start over Ponder, the backup quarterback shined and mostly because of Jennings. The wide receiver had a season-high day, catching 11 passes from Cassel, accounting for 163 yards and a touchdown. This is the type of production the Vikings were hoping to get all season. Jennings cannot help but wonder what the year would have been like if Cassel was the permanent starter, but he is trying not to focus on anything but the future.
"Yeah, you wonder, but we have to move on,' Jennings said, via the Pioneer Press. "I remember mentioning something like that to Matt. He said: "We have three games. Let's make the best of it." I love it because that's his mind-set. He's not worried about what could have, should have -- what possibly could have been. He stays in the now. As a player, that's how we have to operate. We have to stay in the now and take advantage of what is right in front of us."
Jennings admits he has wondered why Ponder kept getting the start when healthy noting other players do not have a say in the decision. Jennings and Ponder never appeared to be on the same page as the two struggled to develop any chemistry as the quarterback was in and out of the lineup. However, something has clicked with Cassel.
"It definitely goes back to training camp. Very smart quarterback. He just has a lot of poise back there. He tries to make plays with his eyes and his arm," Jennings said.
Cassel is likely going to remain with the Vikings into the 2014 season. NFL.com reports that Ponder and Josh Freeman are most likely going to get released at the end of the year. Minnesota will then look into drafting a quarterback in the 2014 Draft to learn under Cassel and potentially start in the coming seasons.
The team also has to decide the fate of head coach Leslie Frazier. As the Vikings continue to fight down the stretch of the season, Frazier's job is not secure despite Jennings feeling confident in the coach.
"All we can do is play for him right now. What we say is not going to carry any weight. I love him as a head coach. I think he's doing an outstanding job keeping the team together. We're going to continue to fight."
