vikings bench QB Jackson, to start Frerotte

premiumplaya · 09-17-2008, 03:17 PM

The Minnesota Vikings are benching quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in favor of Gus Frerotte.

Coach Brad Childress said Wednesday that Frerotte will start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson started the first two games, both losses. He completed just 51 percent of his passes in those starts, prompting the coach to turn to the 37-year-old journeyman Frerotte.

“I’m just not seeing right now the aggressiveness from Tarvaris that I saw throughout the offseason, training camp, the two preseason games that he played in,” Childress said. “And part of it may be experience. I know Gus will give us that. And I know his approach will also lend itself to that.”

Frerotte was signed in the offseason to be Jackson’s backup, but now finds himself trying to turn around a team that had high expectations. The passing offense has struggled mightily through the first two weeks, not only with Jackson’s accuracy issues, but also with receivers dropping passes and conservative play calling.

After an 18-15 loss to the Colts last weekend in which the offense managed only five field goals, Childress said Jackson “is definitely our quarterback this week.”

But that stance started to soften on Monday, when he said coaches were “chewing on a bunch of things right now and making sure that he’s the best guy for us to go forward.”

By Tuesday, the decision was made to give the job to Frerotte.

“I was very surprised,” receiver Bobby Wade said. “I didn’t anticipate that. Obviously it’s the coach’s decision and the administration’s decision and we have to run with that.”

Childress said that barring injury, Frerotte will be the quarterback for the rest of the season. However, Childress added he hasn’t given up on the 25-year-old Jackson as an option for the team’s long term.

“While I know he doesn’t like it, I’d worry about him if he did like it,” Childress said. “I know he’ll make the most of it.”

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer

Bobby O'Shea · 09-17-2008, 03:32 PM

Out of the frying pan into the fire!!

Vikes need to trade for Garcia from the Bucs now!!

Bobby O

BangTheBook · 09-17-2008, 05:13 PM

Wow I dont know what they are thinking they should have known this in the offseason. Ferrote wont be a big improvement.

nomoretime · 09-17-2008, 06:39 PM

They definitely had to give this a shot. Not sure how much Frerotte will actually help but the Vikes are way too 1 dimensional with Jackson in the backfield.

nflman · 09-17-2008, 07:40 PM

Glad he is finally getting an opportunity, with a solid offensive line for protection, he could be very good. With the Vikings several years ago there was a time when Frerotte filled in for Culpepper when Culpepper hurt his back, and during that 3 game stretch (I'm not exactly sure how many games) Frerotte was as sharp as any other QB in the league. He absolutely shined and I thought the Vikings were wrong to put Culpepper back in there, and Culpepper never played well again after that back injury.

Then with Miami, Frerotte didn't have a good offensive line, although he did very well over the second half of that season, you have to wonder how well he could have been with protection.

After watching Tarvaris last year and up until now, I don't understand why Frerotte hasn't been given this chance already. Tarvaris doesn't have the arm, I don't see how he could have been successful in college or get drafted for that matter. No talent whatsoever.

Free agency is a weird thing in this league. There are some players floating around out there that never get the opportunity to perform in the right atmosphere. Congratulations to Frerotte and the Vikings for making this decision and I hope he shines for them again.