Though the Vikings have posted a dismal 6-9 record, and are out of the playoffs, owner Zygi Wilf has complete confidence in coach Brad Childress and is confident that the first-year coach will make the Vikings a winner.

In my conversations with Wilf, he has made it clear that he doesn't have to give Childress a vote of confidence because he understands after being an owner for a year that it takes time to build Super Bowl teams. And he is just as confident now that Childress can do the job as he was when he hired the former Eagles assistant.

"We have done a good job in building for the future," Wilf said. "Winning is most important to me, and we will find a way to win."

While Wilf refuses to personally criticize previous owner Red McCombs, he doesn't believe that previous coaches were given a real chance to win.

Wilf doesn't bring up specifics, but he has shown by his actions -- spending money on players and remodeling the Vikings' office and practice complex to make it one of the better ones in the league -- what he thought needed to be done to make the team a first-class operation.

No doubt Wilf expected better results after spending that money on free agents. And after the team won seven of the last nine games last season, there was reason to believe the team could do well. But Wilf said it's apparent that the new coaching staff needed time to get acclimated.

"I can see now why it takes time and it is difficult for a first-year coach to start out winning," Wilf said.

Tough in first year

The Vikings had employed six coaches before Childress, and only Jerry Burns at 9-7 in 1986 and Dennis Green at 11-5 in 1992 had winning first seasons.

I think Childress overrated the talent not only on his own but on the advice of the personnel people with the Vikings. Free agents such as linebacker Ben Leber, offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Chester Taylor and safety Dwight Smith, among others, were expected to fill holes and make the Vikings a winner. But Childress and those involved in the personnel department learned there are other holes to fill.

The 2005 draft of first-rounders Troy Williamson and Erasmus James, second-rounder Marcus Johnson and third-rounder Dustin Fox didn't contribute because of injuries and inability. The 2006 draft wasn't much help because of the injury to first-rounder Chad Greenway and because two of the three second-round picks -- offensive tackle Ryan Cook and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson -- didn't get involved until late. Only second-rounder Cedric Griffin made a contribution.

It is my opinion that there has been much unjust criticism of the play-calling of Childress. You talk to some of the most successful coaches in the business, and they will tell you that the system is not as important as having good players who have good athletic ability and can execute any system.

I can't remember any first-year coach here in any sport getting ripped liked Childress has.

My thought is this: Give the guy a chance to get his feet on the ground and improve the personnel, and then if he doesn't win in 2007, then it might be fair to question how good a coach he is.

From a media standpoint, I believe I have had a closer relationship with Childress than anybody else. I'm convinced that, given the help and the spending of ownership and what he has learned in his first season, Childress will be an outstanding coach in the NFL.

Knight credits others

Bob Knight won his 879th game Saturday to tie Dean Smith for the most victories of any men's college basketball coach in history. The Texas Tech coach is a cinch to break the record by winning one of his next three games.

Knight refuses to take any credit and goes back to his days as the West Point coach to give players and coaches who worked and played for him credit for the start of his great run.