Brad Childress might not have shown much emotion after signing a contract extension Thursday evening that will run through the 2013 season, but plenty of people were happy for him. Shortly after news broke that Childress had agreed to the deal that will pay him between $4 and $5 million per season he began receiving text messages.

Tony Richardson, a fullback for the Vikings in Childress' first two seasons as head coach, passed along congratulations. So did Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb and Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and then there were Childress' current players who wanted to weigh in. Childress joked they all wanted a loan, but it was clear he was appreciative of the support.

"I shared it with the coaches yesterday morning and the players today that I understand that they are where the rubber meets the road," Childress said today as he talked about signing a contract that will now begin with this season and supersede his previous deal. "I've got a tremendous staff and support group and a great group of guys that are fun to come to work with every day. I don't have any illusions [about it]. Players win games. You set the course and then the assistant coaches do, by and large, a lot of the teaching. From our training staff on down I'm grateful to those guys as well because I wouldn't be standing here right now if that wasn't the case."

Childress, who rarely speaks in a formal setting on Fridays but did so today, tried to downplay getting a contract that replaced the five-year, $10 million deal he signed in 2006 when he took over the Vikings. He tried to put the focus on Sunday's game against Seattle. But for at least one news conference, that wasn't going to be possible.

With the Vikings sitting at 8-1 and atop the NFC North, Childress' reward was met with approval in the Vikings locker room. "I was extremely pleased," to find out about the extension, linebacker Ben Leber said. "I'm happy for him. It's something I think is very deserving. I thought it was going to happen a little bit sooner than this but I'm happy for the guy."

So was tight end Visanthe Shiancoe: "It's a good job by the organization. Keeping this thing together here. He had a vision and his vision is coming into reality."

Childress was asked how much of the fact he was able to get his contract extended had to do with his ability to talk quarterback Brett Favre into playing for the Vikings. Favre has been nothing short of outstanding this season.

"You'd have to ask somebody else about that," Childress said. "That's just part of the job of trying to make the place better every day and that's what we're still trying to do. Whether it's figuring out who is on the active list or what plays we're going to start with for openers as we go upstairs here. That's just what you do. You take an inventory every day. Sometimes it's personnel, sometimes it's additions [and] subtractions and sometimes it's play."

WINFIELD DOUBTFUL

The Vikings listed cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) as doubtful for Sunday's game against Seattle. That's a mild surprise but not a complete shock and means Winfield very well could miss a fourth consecutive game. Benny Sapp would likely start again in Winfield's place. Sapp is listed as probable after suffering a groin injury last Sunday against Detroit.

Cornerback Karl Paymah, who also has been seeing time in Winfield's place, is questionable after being added to the injury report on Thursday because of an ankle issue. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) also is questionable.

Listed as probable are defensive end Jayme Mitchell (illiness); fullback Naufahu Tahi (ankle); quarterback Brett Favre (groin/hip); and linebacker E.J. Henderson (knee). Favre and Henderson took part in all of today's practice.