Vikings look forward after one last look back

Brad Childress did not address the media a day after the Vikings' opening-round playoff loss to Philadelphia -- he will give his wrap-up news conference Thursday -- but Childress' boss granted a brief interview and made it clear he is happy with the direction of the franchise.

A 10-6 finish in Childress' third season as coach gave the Vikings their first NFC North title and first playoff berth since 2004.

"It's always tough to lose when you get into the playoffs but the team through the year, from training camp on, worked very hard to get where we were," owner Zygi Wilf said. "Division champions is a milestone that we'll work on and build on. [I'm] just very excited about the team and its future and the direction that we're headed."

Wilf made it clear that Childress will continue to lead the way. Asked if Childress definitely will be back for what will be the fourth season of a five-year contract, Wilf said "yes" in rapid succession three times.

But that type of security doesn't apply to several players on the Vikings roster. Players went through exit interviews, physicals and meetings on Monday, knowing it's the final time this group will be gathered. The Vikings have 12 players who are set to become unrestricted free agents in late February. The list includes starting center Matt Birk, safety Darren Sharper, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, who was signed after E.J. Henderson suffered a season- ending toe injury in Week 4.

Tarvaris Jackson's shaky outing (45.4 passer rating) in Sunday's loss also raises questions about the team's quarterback position. Jackson has a year left on his contract, but his performance almost certainly will cause the Vikings to explore their options for 2009. Veteran Gus Frerotte also has a year remaining on his deal, but it would not be a surprise to see him ask for his release.

Wilf did not answer a question about whether the Vikings again will be active in free agency, but according to ESPN.com, they have $20.4 million in salary-cap space. That figure could change based on credits and adjustments that take place just before free agency starts.

Asked what it will take to improve the franchise, Wilf said: "I'll leave it to the coaches and the personnel guys to do that. Right now, I'm just saying goodbye to some of the guys and look forward to -- as I said to them jokingly and they were laughing -- seeing them in Mankato [for training camp]."

Birk, 32, and Sharper, 33, however, could be headed somewhere other than Mankato come July. The Vikings did not engage in contract talks with either during the season and have potential replacements already in place. John Sullivan, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame last April, spent the season learning behind Birk at center; second-round pick Tyrell Johnson got seven starts at safety when Madieu Williams was out because of a neck injury.

Birk, like other players, had a brief meeting with Childress on Monday before departing Winter Park. The St. Paul native has spent all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Vikings and just completed a contract that started in September 2001.

"This is new to me, I've never been an unrestricted free agent before," Birk said Monday. "I don't know if it feels good, it's just different. It feels kind of strange."

Birk said he "feels great" and made it clear he wants to play in 2009. "I still feel like I have a lot of football left in me," he said. "I'm definitely going to weigh my options, and ultimately it's going to come down to what's the best situation for my family."

Although he did not take part in the voluntary portion of the Vikings' offseason program last year and instead trained with former Vikings long snapper Mike Morris, Birk is not set on doing that again whether he returns to the Vikings or goes elsewhere.

"Whatever the team would want me to do, I'd do," he said.

Birk talked about how much he enjoyed being around his teammates this season and how fast the year seemed to go because of that. Sharper, meanwhile, expressed a desire to return for many of the same reasons, although it appears nearly certain he won't be back.

"I want to. I love the guys," Sharper said. "That's the exact word I'm using because I do, I love the guys here in the locker room. A lot of good guys here. We'll see. It's the nature of the NFL and business to never know, especially when you have a contract run out. So you never know. It's still up in the air. We'll see what happens. I would like to still be here and have the same locker come the offseason, but you never know how things are going to go."