Frazier defends his importance in shaping the Vikings' future

A humble man by nature, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spoke up for his importance in shaping the future of the franchise when asked whether he feels the youth movement being orchestrated by new General Manager Rick Spielman puts the head coach in danger of not being able to win enough games to keep his job beyond 2012.

"The thing you have to understand when we're building a team, it's `we.' It's not `Rick,'" Frazier said today following the team's second day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practices. "Rick could not build this team without the head coach being in concert with him in doing that. That wouldn't be good for he or I."

Frazier is entering the second of a three-year deal. It's also the final year that the team has to pay former coach Brad Childress.

Frazier has a 6-16 record, resides in the NFL's toughest division (NFC North) and is leading a team that's universally considered at least a year away from contending. He'll have a second-year quarterback, three new starters on the offensive line, possibly two rookie starters at safety, new faces at nose tackle and middle linebacker, and a rookie kicker who missed 14 of 35 kicks at Georgia last year. Oh yeah, his best player (Adrian Peterson) had his left knee rebuilt in late December.

Still, Frazier said he participated fully with Spielman in the decisions to let go of several veterans, including reliable kicker Ryan Longwell.

"There isn't a decision that's made that the two of us don't talk about and agree upon," Frazier said. "It would just not be good. So the decisions that have been made are decisions that were discussed and we were in agreement that this is the right thing to do. It's hard build a team if the general manager and the head coach aren't on the same page. And we are, thank goodness."

Harvin, Peterson put on hill-climbing exhibition: It's tough to say who worked harder at Winter Park today: The players in uniform or the two injured guys racing repeatedly to the top of the steep hill near the practice fields.

"The good thing is those guys are competing; they push one another," Frazier said. "That's good for us. Two great athletes like that pushing one another in their rehab, That's a good thing."

Peterson has been in town rehabbing his knee. Harvin arrived Monday night, earning a pile of credit from teammates and coaches impressed that he decided to show up for the voluntary workouts.

"I gave him a big hug," Frazier said. "He texted me Monday night, Memorial Day. I wasn't sure what his flight schedule was going to be. He said, `I'm in town, what doctors do I need to see tomorrow morning?' I texted him back and asked, `Is this the Percy Harvin? He's just great for our meetings, great for our coaches ... Just to have him on the side and in the meetings. He's a guy who is so well-respected by our team and is such a playmaker, and now he's become one of the leaders on our team. It is great that he would be here in a voluntary decision."

Harvin said he never had a doubt about showing up.

"If I remember correct, I told you guys [media] last year at the end of the season that I was going to make it a point to make sure most of the team was here," Harvin said. "I think we got 98 percent here."

Frazier said Greenway had a "family matter" to tend to. He also said he "hopes" to see Allen show up for OTAs next week. OTAs are voluntary, so Frazier chose to focus on the fact that all but two veterans were attending.

"The fact that we have the guys we have here is something to get excited about, and that's what I'm excited about," Frazier said. "Participation is a big deal. A big deal when you're trying to install the things that we're installing and trying to build a championship team."

Center John Sullivan is here, but didn't practice. He left the facility limping with a sleeve covering his left leg. The injury isn't believed to be serious.

Erin Henderson ready for `prove-it' year: Linebacker Erin Henderson was asked if he was ready for a "prove-it" year after signing a one-year deal this offseason.

"Of course," he said. "You got to improve. The moment you get complacent, the moment somebody's going to run you out the door. You got to come to work everyday and grind. It's tough work, but you have to find a way to get it done."

"For me and the offense, No. 1 is doing a lot better job on first down," Ponder said. "We want to be completing 75 percent of our passes on first down. I think we were low 60s, around 63 percent, last year.

"That's going to help us be so much better on third down and eventually points scored per game. I think it's important for me. I have to do a better job moving around in the pocket and not taking off so early. Get a better feel for the pocket and make better decisions. ...Just smarter decisions. not trying to force the ball down the field. I think if we have `go' routes called and it's not open, to check it down. I think it comes down to patience and knowing your reads and finding the open guy. Football is not that hard of a game. You have to find the open guy and get the ball to him."

Brinkley still holding back following hip surgery: The good news is it's May 30 and players aren't supposed to be ready for opening day on May 30. But Frazier said he's still looking for middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley to prove he can come back from the major hip surgery that wiped out his entire 2011 season. Brinkley is working with the first unit and the starting job is his to lose.

"He's getting there mentally, but there are still some things that he's holding back on," Frazier said. "He's got to get to the point where he's got to let it go a little bit. It's still early. We've only had two practices and we'll see how he progresses. But we'll need him to let it go at some point."

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