Frazier: Vikings considering options at QB

Coach Leslie Frazier said the Vikings brass continues to consider its options for replacing Brett Favre and finding a potential long-term solution at quarterback. During an appearance on Mark Rosen's "Sports Sunday" show, Frazier made it clear that it hasn't been decided whether that might include looking to the free-agent market or the April draft.

"We have some time between now and the draft to kind of look at some things from a free-agent standpoint and then we'll look at some college players as well to try to make a determination: Is it better to draft a guy or is it better to maybe bring in a veteran guy to compete in training camp?" Frazier said. " ... We do not have our mind made up at all."

Frazier also indicated that Joe Webb could get a chance to compete for the job.

The QB situation was one of a variety of topics Frazier discussed with Rosen during his appearance that came on the same night Green Bay won the Super Bowl. "You have to take your hat off to them," Frazier said of the Packers. "They did a great job, had a terrific season, overcame a lot of adversity with injuries and now they are world champions."

Here are some more questions and answers from the interview.

Q. How are you and the Vikings front office approaching the offseason with so many unknowns, including the lack of a collective bargaining agreement?

Frazier: "We're trying to approach it as if things are going to get worked out. We'll find out on March 4 if that's going to be the case. [That's the day the CBA is set to expire and a lockout could begin.] If it turns out that we're able to continue on because there is an agreement in place, then we are ready to go. If that's not the case, then we'll have to be able to deal with whatever the circumstances say they are."

Frazier: "With our own free agents, we're able to sign our free agents [right now]. ... With our guys we're trying to put together a plan for some of them. The hard part is, without there being a CBA, you really don't know what you can talk about from a dollars and cents standpoint, so you have to be very careful."

Q. Is Joe Webb's future clearly at quarterback or is there a possibility you could move him to wide receiver?

Frazier: "Joe did some very good things for us down the stretch. Was pressed into a position of having to start in some key games. The Philadelphia game was a big game for him and for our team. We want to give him a chance to play quarterback and let him prove that he's not a quarterback. He showed some things in those two starts at the end of the season that he's capable of being a quarterback."

Q. How do you know as a coach how much time and money you want to invest in a young guy like Webb at the quarterback position? Because there are a lot of guys in the same boat around the NFL.

Frazier: "There are a lot of guys similar to Joe. But Joe has a unique skill set. The things he's able to do out of the pocket and the poise that he showed down the stretch ... you don't always see that. Especially in a rookie quarterback. So there's something there. We've just got to determine: Is it enough to help us to be in the hunt next season?"

Frazier: "That's one of the issues that we're dealing with. Our division is arguably now the toughest division in the league. The NFC North. When you're talking about Chicago and Green Bay playing for the NFC Championship, that tells you how tough are division is. We've got our work cut out for us and we're the one team in our division that has an unsettled quarterback situation. So we want to be able to get that fixed."

Q. Does Adrian Peterson fit the offensive philosophy that you and new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave want to install for this team as you put your stamp on this offense?

Frazier: "Without question. I think every team in our league would love to have an Adrian Peterson in their backfield. We're fortunate. We feel like he's the best running back in the National Football League. There's no greater place to start your offense than with an Adrian Peterson."

Q. Are the top flight running backs getting devalued by everyone except the coaches because this has turned into such a passing league?

Frazier: "In our situation, it's unique. I don't think there's another Adrian Peterson in the league. If Green Bay or Pittsburgh had an Adrian Peterson I'm sure they would try to feature him. But it just so happens a lot more wide receivers are available and it's tougher to find enough defensive backs sometimes to cover these wide receivers. The rules being so liberal the way they are now it kind of favors the passing game. It has made it a lot tougher to defend the pass."

Frazier: "I think everybody in the organization would love to see Adrian retire a Minnesota Viking. That would be ideal."

Q. How about the offensive line?

Frazier: "That's an area we'll need to address, as well as what we're doing at quarterback. We want to take a look at our offensive line as well. We had some injuries, we're getting a little bit older. That's an area we'll want to take a look at also."

Q. What's on your agenda right now? Are you meeting with the scouting department, are you looking at draft choices, are you forming the board?