It appears that former Vikings Percy Harvin and Christian Ponder have found new homes on the same day, at opposite ends of the country.
Let’s start with Harvin, he was released by the New York Jets on Tuesday and it didn’t take him long to reunite with his former coach, Rex Ryan, in Buffalo.
Oh boy: Bills reached agreement on 1-year deal with WR Percy Harvin, per source. Buffalo spending bills; add Harvin, McCoy, Incognito.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2015
Midway through the season, before Ryan was let go in New York, he traded for Harvin. According to Pro Football Talk, Harvin must have made a good impression on Ryan.
He will bring another weapon to the Bills offense, which already has added running back LeSean McCoy, quarterback Matt Cassel and offensive lineman Richie Incognito to the mix.
In addition, he joins an already strong receiving corps that includes Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods.
The Vikings drafted Harvin with their first round pick in 2009. They traded him to Seattle following the 2012 season. His short stint with the Seahawks was plagued by injuries, but he did return a kickoff for a touchdown during Seattle’s Super Bowl victory over Denver.
But midway through last season the Seahawks sent Harvin to Jets for what has become a sixth-round pick. The Jets decided to release Harvin rather than paying him a $7 million roster bonus.
Ponder expected to sign with Raiders
Ponder appears to be heading west. Reports indicate that he is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders, and that he was meeting Raiders officials on Friday.
#Raiders are expected to sign QB Christian Ponder to a one-year deal, per league source.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 13, 2015
The Vikings chose to let their 2011 first round pick test free agency after he was unable to establish himself as the team’s starting quarterback.
In 36 starts with the Vikings over four seasons, Ponder connected on 632-of-1,057 passes for 6,658 yards. He threw 38 touchdowns and ran for seven more, while committing 46 turnovers (interceptions and fumbles lost).
Ponder’s fate in Minnesota was sealed when the Vikings drafted Teddy Bridgewater with a first round pick in the 2014 draft.
Ponder is expected to be Derek Carr’s backup, the move reunites him with former Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, who now holds the same title in Oakland.
According to Pro Football Talk, the decision to add Ponder casts more doubt to Matt Schaub’s future in Oakland. He is due to make $5.5 million in 2015.
