Zimmer, Vikings still sorting through QB situation

INDIANAPOLIS — Facing a franchise-altering decision at quarterback, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer summarized the predicament this way: “We’ve got to pick the right one. If not, I’ll probably get fired.”

All three quarterbacks on the roster are free agents: Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Teddy Bridgewater.

The Vikings are toeing the line with 13 days before the start of free agency. General manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine “no decisions have been made.”

On Thursday, Zimmer cautioned media “don’t believe everything you hear” regarding swirling reports that the Vikings are leaning a certain direction.

“All three of our quarterbacks have questions, there’s no doubt,” Zimmer said. “Can Sam stay healthy? Is Case the guy that played for the Rams or the guy that played for us? Can Teddy get back to the player he was?”

Bradford started 17 games with the Vikings since being acquired for a first-round draft pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in September 2016. Spielman parted with the precious pick after Bridgewater, who led the team to the playoffs in 2015, suffered a devastating injury shortly before the start of the 2016 season. Keenum was signed last April to provide depth, but wound up starting 14 regular-season games and taking Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game. He had started 14 games the prior two seasons with the Rams, and Minnesota was his third team in four seasons.

Zimmer said Bradford is healthy and spent last week skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Zimmer said he does believe in Bradford, who has a history of knee injuries and was decked by a bone bruise in the second game of the 2017 season. Keenum wants to return, but the key in negotiations appears to be market value.

“The financial part has to make sense for the player, and for the team,” Zimmer said.

Minnesota is built around its defense, and Zimmer said he went out of his way to stress to Spielman he wants to ensure that signing a quarterback does not handicap the organization from feeding the team talent at other positions.

“We’ve won 40 games in the last four years (39 in regular season, one in playoffs),” Zimmer said. “We’ve done that by being pretty good on defense. This year, obviously, the offense was much better. But part of the reason we’ve been winning games and staying in games is because we’ve been playing good on defense and we’ve been a smart team and all those things. I want to be really careful from taking away from our strength and saying, ‘OK, we’re not going to be able to do this and do that anymore because of financial reasons or something else.”

Bridgewater was inactive in the playoffs, although he said after the loss to the Eagles ended Minnesota’s season that he views himself as a starting quarterback.

Zimmer said Bridgewater would not have been dressed for games in December if the coaches didn’t rate him as game-ready.

“I love Teddy,” Zimmer said. “I’m hopeful for Teddy for an outstanding career. … He’s earned it. Hopefully it’s with me.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media