UPDATE: As you know by now, Childress has been fired since I posted earlier this morning.

Four Downs while wondering if maybe Marc Trestman should be a candidate for the Vikings job, not the Gophers job ...

FIRST DOWN:

Looking back on the Vikings' 31-3 loss to the Packers, all I can say is I've seen and felt that game before. The first time I can remember feeling and seeing that kind of game came during Week 8 of the 1984 season.

Sam Rutigliano was on da hot seat at 1-6 heading into a rivalry game against Cincinnati. He lost and you could sense that was it. The next morning Browns owner Art Modell fired him and gave a young defensive coach a chance at his first head coaching job.

That coach was Marty Schottenheimer, who finished the year 4-4 to earn the job full-time. Marty was one of the greatest regular-season head coaches ever and, unfortunately, one of the worst post-season coaches ever.

The way the Vikings collapsed at home, fell to 3-7 and how they behaved on the sideline, I just have that feeling the basket with all the eggs in it was dropped and run over by a cement truck.

A line was crossed that I don't believe Brad Childress can come back from. It's not all his fault. But it's time to part ways, and there's no sense in putting everybody through six more weeks of agony. This is part of coaching. It's nothing personal. It's just over.

And since it's over, how bout hiring a general manager, Zygi? How bout hiring a guy who can hire a coach and be involved in all football operations at Winter Park on a daily basis. The Randy Moss fiasco is proof enough that a general manager is needed to run the show.

SECOND DOWN:

To me, it would be a toss-up as to whether I'd name Leslie Fraizier or Darrell Bevell the head coach. But I'd go with Frazier because there's a respect there that Frazier gets for having not only played the game, but having been a starter on the 1985 Bears.

Also, it would be easier for Frazier to make the decision I'm sure no coach wants to face: Telling Brett Favre it's over.

THIRD DOWN:

So what do you do with Favre? And don't be mad at the guy because this didn't work out. He basically told us it wasn't going to work out during that first press conference this season. He basically told us he wanted to retire, but came back as a "favor" to his teammates. It also helped that he got about $20 million to come back. But one could sense back then that Favre knew a replay of 2009 was going to be a long shot.

But he did come back, which means he risked -- again -- and ugly ending to a great career. So, unfortunately, it's time for the Vikings to give Tarvaris Jackson his final shot to show something.

Besides, if the Vikings keep losing, they're that much closer to the top of the 2011 draft. They even play two of the four teams that have fewer losses (Buffalo and Detroit).

FOURTH DOWN:

The Vikings will look drastically different in 2011 -- assuming there is a 2011 season. But Adrian Peterson will still be in his prime. Percy Harvin will still be one of the most electric players in the league. I would assume the team will re-sign Sidney Rice.

The defense will need to be rebuilt with a new nose tackle, at least one linebacker, both safeties and some cornerbacks.

I'd say the priorities are: 1, General manager. 2, Coach. 3, quarterback. 4, safety. 5, cornerback.