"If Donovan McNabb has his way, he'll be the Vikings' quarterback when he's pushing 40.

Rookie Christian Ponder might not have that much patience.

McNabb, who turns 35 in November, said he feels like he has "five or six more years left" of NFL quarterbacking.

"If that puts me at 40, so be it," McNabb said. "The whole thing about it is playing at a high level, still competing at this game, and I still feel like I have gas."

The succession plan for Ponder, the 12th overall pick in April's draft, has not yet been defined by the Vikings staff, but trading for McNabb makes it clear the team did not feel comfortable starting a rookie after the lockout wiped out offseason workouts.

Ponder, who on Sunday signed a four-year rookie deal worth around $11 million, said he understands why the Vikings acquired a veteran and appreciates the value of honing his skills behind the scenes.

But that won't stop him from trying to outplay him in camp.

"My mentality is to be able to go in and compete and try to get that job," Ponder said. "He deserves to be the starting quarterback. Somewhere down the road I'm going to push to take that over, and we'll see."

Roster news: Cornerback Cedric Griffin, fresh off his second torn anterior cruciate ligament in as many years, will be managed carefully in camp but likely won't be placed on the physically unable to perform list.

A more likely candidate for the PUP is right guard Anthony Herrera, who tore his ACL in November. Griffin tore his in October.

Frazier hopes Griffin can be ready for the Sept. 11 opener at San Diego. The Vikings struggled at cornerback last season opposite mainstay Antoine Winfield because of injuries to Griffin and rookie Chris Cook.

"He'll be cleared to practice," Frazier said. "We just won't ask him to do everything that everybody else is doing." "