Christian Ponder of Minnesota Vikings Can Learn a Lot from Aaron Rodgers

For the Vikings to have a future in Minnesota, Christian Ponder will probably be best served by studying Aaron Rodgers rather than teammate Donovan McNabb as history tends to favors the victors. 

In a Packers 45-7 win where Rodgers all but cemented his claim on this year's MVP award, passing for 250 yards and four touchdowns, you have to hope that the rookie from Florida State took plenty of notes as Ponder's 16-of-34 passes for 190-yard effort with an interception simply wasn't enough to compete.

Prior to last night, though, the Vikings rookie quarterback in two starts managed to give the team a jolt that the much maligned Donovan McNabb seemingly failed to do during the disappointing early weeks of the season.

With the Vikings well out of the playoff hunt, the key question moving forward this season is finding out whether Ponder is dynamic enough to not only win games, but ultimately generate the momentum needed to help keep the team in Minneapolis.

In a division where Rodgers can do no wrong, Jay Cutler can never quite get it right and Matthew Stafford can't seem to ever stay healthy, how Ponder is cast can have a meaningful impact for the franchise moving forward as the team fights to get a new stadium.

Naturally, wins and losses are the most important measure by how teams are judged. But with so much parity in the league, the perception of a team's quarterback (most often the face of the franchise) in this day and age also has considerable influence. 

Ideally, Ponder will exude confidence and a winning attitude paired with the occasional insightful or humorous quip similar to Rodgers' and other media darlings', while at the same time not come across as too cocky or aloof.  Otherwise, Ponder runs the risk of being cast by the media in similar fashion to the man he replaced.

Following Ponder's first start, Reid Forgrave at Fox Sports prepared a eulogy for Donovan McNabb's Vikings funeral.  Throughout his career, McNabb has been the butt of jokes and insults, yet had he won simply one Super Bowl, would the same treatment be given to him?

Perhaps McNabb is just another in a long line of hired guns brought in by the Vikes and should be afforded little love in the Twin Cities, but what about the original face of the franchise, Fran Tarkenton?

If Tarkenton played today with three Super Bowl losses to his legacy, he would be eaten alive by the press. 

Meanwhile, consider how many other "legends" would have been scrutinized or criticized by the media today prior to achieving greatness.

Terry Bradshaw had to fight for his job years into his tenure in Pittsburgh and at times came across as aloof. 

Joe Namath was a notorious playboy who threw more interceptions than touchdowns during his injury-riddled career.

Even Roger Staubach following his commitment to the Navy was platooned with Craig Morton in what should have been his first year as starter before leading the Cowboys to a Super Bowl win.

Essentially, a ring validated each of them and continues to do so for the likes of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and now Aaron Rodgers. 

At the same time, Hall of Famers like Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino become increasingly irrelevant with the passage of time and could some day be joined by McNabb.  

Understand I'm not here to defend McNabb so much as shine the light on a media that can't define success in the NFL beyond hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. 

Ultimately, there are 32 teams in the league, but only one can win each year.  Currently almost half of those teams (14 in total) have yet to win a Super Bowl.  Even if there were no dynasties, it would still take a generation for each team to win. 

Sadly, the Vikings may not be afforded that much time. 

Perhaps it's unfair to place this sort of pressure on a rookie starting only his third game, but we live in a world where we already place too much emphasis on the quarterback position by unofficially considering it the single most important position in all of professional sports. 

Last night, Ponder may have lost some momentum following his hot start, but hopefully he can continue learning by studying the likes of Rodgers and avoiding the mistakes of McNabb both on and off the field to help the Vikings generate the necessary support to stay. 

Good luck, Christian Ponder, the fate of the franchise rests in your hands. Take great care in whichever path you choose.