Signing Frerotte may push QBs down draft board

PALM BEACH, FLA. - The Vikings' pending agreement with veteran quarterback Gus Frerotte likely will preclude them from selecting a quarterback early in this month's NFL draft, coach Brad Childress said Wednesday.

Childress said he had not finished discussing the issue with Rick Spielman, vice president of player personnel. But, Childress said: "If we bring a guy in for that situation, it would be difficult to look at a quarterback very high."

Spielman was among a contingent of Vikings officials who watched Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan's official campus workout last month. The Vikings also have made plans to have Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco and Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm in for visits at Winter Park.

Childress indicated he preferred to take a quarterback in the lower rounds, if at all.

"I'm always in the mode of looking to develop maybe a younger guy," he said. "Maybe knock the edges off and, in three or four years, you might have something."

The Vikings had not officially announced Frerotte's signing as of Wednesday evening. But, Childress said, "I don't think it's any secret that we're in talks with Gus Frerotte."

• Owner Zygi Wilf on his decision to extend Spielman's contract: "Everybody has been working very hard and we believe we're going to be very successful. We finally feel, as I've always stated that I wanted, that we have the three of them working great together, and we want them all to keep working together."

Spielman originally signed a three-year deal in May 2006. His new contract is believed to contain at least two more years.

• Right guard Anthony Herrera, who was born in Trinidad and Tobagao, received his U.S. citizenship last month in St. Paul. Childress attended the ceremony.

• Childress and St. Louis coach Scott Linehan discussed the possibility of scheduling a dual practice this summer in training camp. The Rams are hoping to move camp to Wisconsin but have made no commitments. There have been no discussions between the Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs, who traditionally have practiced against each other in recent years.

• The Vikings discussed the possibility of signing Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson to an offer sheet last month. "But there were a lot of people discussed," Childress said, indicating the talks were never serious.