vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Frazier not worried about his future, even if season ends at 2-14
Posted by: Mark Craig under Vikings, Adrian Peterson, Cedric Griffin, Steve Hutchinson, Visanthe Shiancoe Updated: December 19, 2011 - 3:05 PM
It's the question that's going to keep popping up with the Vikings barelling toward a 2-14 record, which would be the worst among 51 years of Vikings football:
Are you, coach Les Frazier, concerned about your future if you finish the season at 2-14. Frazier reportedly has been assured he's coming back. Of course, it doesn't take a genius to realize he wouldn't be the first coach in the history of sports to be fired after what apparently was a vote of confidence by an owner.
"I'm really not. I'm really not," Frazier said when asked that a day after the Vikings lost to the Saints 42-20 at Mall of America Field. "I know what we're trying to get done. I'm really optimistic about the future. It's difficult, and as crazy as that may sound, I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in this situation in the future. No. Not concerned about 2012 at this point, other than the Washington Redskins, 2011. That's really where the focus has to be."
In other news:
- Cornerback Asher Allen has a concussion and must pass the league-mandated test before returning to practice.
- Left guard Steve Hutchinson also suffered a concussion. He left Sunday's game with a lip laceration. It was later determined that he had a concussion.
- Safety Jarrad Page is day-to-day with a hamstring.
- Adrian Peterson (ankle) and Christian Ponder (hip) didn't aggravate their injuries.
- Frazier also talked about the future of Cedric Griffin, the former starter who didn't play on defense even after Allen suffered his concussion in the first quarter. "That's something that he and I will have to sit down and talk about. We'll sit down with [VP of Player Personnel] Rick [Spielman] and the three of us will talk about his role. In these final two games, we're going to need him in some form or fashion to help us. We were strapped yesterday, especially when Asher went down. I have to sit down and talk to him about his role in these final two games to see how he can help us." Asked if it was a lack of trust, Frazier said: "Not a lack of trust, but there are some things that he and I have to talk about to make sure that we are on the same page on certain things. I still have confidence that he can help us in situations. I really do. But he and I need to sit down and talk through some situations." Frazier said it's not an off-the-field issue with Griffin.
- Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, talking to reporters in the locker room today, said some players quit on Sunday. "I would say, ya know, you could see some guys hung it up. Not a lot though. Like a very small handful of guys. That’s very, very, very disappointing, man."
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