Vikings coach Brad Childress made an appearance on WCCO Radio this morning on the "Sports Huddle" with Sid Hartman and Mike Max. It was primarily to talk about the St. David's Center Gala that was held on Saturday but Childress did field a few football-related questions.

Q. How much are the Bears better with defensive end Julius Peppers and running back Chester Taylor having signed as free agents?

A. "There are two seasons. There's the season that you play and then there's the offseason where you have people on paper. Nobody is going to deny those were a couple of pretty good football players and [Brandon] Manumaleuna is a guy that is very familiar with [new Bears offensive coordinator] Mike Martz's system as a multiple tight end."

Q. Talk about your visit to Hattiesburg, Miss. last week to meet with Brett Favre.

A. "It was just a good visit. I think what people fail to realize is I've known him for a lot of years, met him when he was with Mike Holmgren, when he was with Andy [Reid], when he was with Bev [Darrell Bevell]. Really, it was the first really good opportunity to sit down and talk that wasn't in a restaurant or standing out in the field before a game or sitting in a meeting room. It was really good. It's always neat for me to see where people are from and what they are up to."

Q. What's Favre like in that setting at home?

A. "He's a dad, he's got his 10-year-old at home, drives her to school every day and he works out on his property. He's pretty handy. Much handier than I think I would be. Pretty fair I think with the chainsaw and a tractor and a Caterpillar. He gets back to his roots back there and he loves to do that."

Q. You can sign two free agents now that you've lost running back Chester Taylor and offensive lineman Artis Hicks, right?

A. "We have the ability if we find two that are to our liking. We're not just going to sign people just to sign them."

Q. Left guard Steve Hutchinson had surgery on his shoulder, is he OK now?

A. "There a lot of guys that got tweaked up. You know the old grease, oil, filter. Every one of those guys in the training room is progressing and they are heading in the right direction as we head through the offseason."