Frazier's trial run has impressed Wilfs

All I have heard from Zygi and Mark Wilf, the owners of the Vikings, are good words about Leslie Frazier, who took over as interim coach when Brad Childress was fired Nov. 22.

The Wilfs have been impressed with Frazier's coaching, the way he handles the media and the great relationship he has with his assistant coaches and the many employees of the Vikings.

There has been great rapport between the Wilfs and Frazier, and I look for him to be named the Vikings coach this week.

The Wilfs were very happy with the way Frazier handled the movement of the two games from the Metrodome. That was not easy, but Frazier worked very well with a lot of people to make sure it all came off without a hitch. And he never used all the moves as an excuse for this team's play.

I'm sure that other NFL owners are advising the Wilfs to clean house and bring in a big-name coach, such as Bill Parcells, Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. That would mean basically starting from scratch as the team is rebuilt.

But it would be a big surprise if that happened. Frazier wants to coach here in the worst way, and I think he is sick of waiting for another opening. He has been close to getting another job in the past, and would be a very attractive candidate if the Vikings don't wrap him up.

Coach optimistic Frazier believes the Vikings have the nucleus of another great team.

So once terms of a contract are agreed on, look for a news conference this week making Frazier the permanent coach for two years with an option for a third season.

And since most of the assistant coaches are signed for 2011, look for the staff to remain pretty much intact. Frazier will have at least two openings -- replacing himself at defensive coordinator and Eric Bieniemy, who is headed for the University of Colorado to be offensive coordinator, as running backs coach.

And once Frazier is coach, he will try to figure out how the Vikings could dominate a super team like the Eagles last week at a very tough place to play, then lose to the Lions.

High on Favre The Vikings tied the Lions for last place in the NFC North at 6-10 after a 20-13 loss Sunday in Detroit, leaving them with few positives this season.

But veteran defensive tackle Pat Williams said one was playing with quarterback Brett Favre for two seasons.

"Everybody loves Favre. There's no complaints against Favre. He's good on and off. You can go talk to him any time."

And I'm sure everybody in that Viking locker room agrees with Williams.

I do. I've been covering the Vikings since Day 1 and I've never seen a better influence in the locker room than Favre. I will really miss him next season -- unless he surprises everybody and comes back.

Williams, like most of the players on the team, said he was surprised by the Vikings' poor record.

"We weren't expecting this season to go like this, but you know that's how the NFL is," Williams said. "It just happened. You can't put any fingers on it. Stuff like this just happens. You can't explain it.

Business decisions Williams believes the Vikings must rebuild in 2011.

"It's a business, and I'm a free agent and [defensive end] Ray Edwards is a free agent," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen around here. At the end of the day some are going to be back and some don't. I can't complain. I've got to do what I got to do. It's all a business."

The Vikings had 10 Pro Bowlers last season but have only one (running back Adrian Peterson) this season.

Williams said linebacker Chad Greenway deserved a Pro Bowl spot, "but it's all politics. He don't play in the 3-4 defense, so they'll take an outside linebacker that plays in the 3-4 before they take him."

Williams praised defensive lineman Kevin Williams. "He's great this year, but you know it's like every year," said Pat Williams.

But things have changed since last season. The Bears spent a lot of money adding personnel this season, including defensive end Julius Peppers, and won the division. The Packers were contenders all season even though they had a ton of injuries and made the playoffs behind their outstanding quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. And the Lions won their final four games and showed they will be a team to watch in the future.

Scott Linehan, the former Vikings offensive coordinator and now holding the same position with Detroit, had the same problems with injuries that Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell did. The Vikings had key injuries to Favre, Peterson, receivers Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and linemen Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera. For the Lions, quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall choice two years ago, started only three games. This year's first-round pick, tailback Jahvid Best, had turf toe most of the season, and former Vikings receiver Nate Burleson missed two games but ended up with 55 receptions, including six for 83 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

The Vikings have 18 players on their roster with four years or more of experience and expiring contracts, making them likely free agents. Rice, Greenway, Pat Williams, Edwards, linebacker Ben Leber and kicker Ryan Longwell are among those players.

And the big problem is the Vikings don't have a starting quarterback while the other teams in the division -- the Bears (Jay Cutler), the Packers (Rodgers) and the Lions (Stafford) are set.