Former Chicago Bears cornerback Leslie Frazier has taken over as interim head coach of the Minnesota Vikings after head coach Brad Childress was relieved of his duties on Monday following a 31-3 loss to the division rival Green Bay Packers.
Childress looked like a genius last season after bringing Brett Favre out of retirement and got to within a play of the Super Bowl, earning a hefty contract extension en route to the NFC Championship game. This season, Chilly dispatched some players to Mississippi to drag Favre back, but apparently his heart – or his body for that matter- are up for the challenge. With the Vikings in the midst of a disappointing 3-7 season and a player revolt unfolding, owner Zygi Wilf had no choice but to fire Chilly. Live by the Favre, die by the Favre, I guess.
Frazier, a member of the championship 1985 Bears defense, has been a head coaching candidate for a number of years finally gets his chance. He is considered a member of the Tony Dungy coaching tree and adhering to the same Cover-2 defensive philosophy as our very own Lovie Smith.
Speaking of Lovie, he reacted to the news from Minnesota in his Monday press conference. Here are some of the highlights:
"“I’m very surprised,” coach Lovie Smith said. “I just found out about it a few minutes ago and it’s a shame a little bit when you have your team a play away from being in the Super Bowl one year and he’s without a job the next year. But that’s our business. When we get in it, we realize that. Looking at it from a different point of view, it’s always good to see a guy like Leslie Frazier get an opportunity.”"
Frazier’s first move as head coach? Keep the struggling Brett Favre as the Vikings’ starting quarterback. Maybe he’s working undercover for the Bears?