Lockout looms as big block for Frazier

INDIANAPOLIS - Leslie Frazier acknowledged the Vikings have definite areas of need while addressing the media as a head coach for the first time Friday at the NFL scouting combine. But Frazier cautioned that does not mean his team is going to be in a rebuilding mode.

"We're not that far removed from playing in the NFC Championship Game," Frazier said. "We need to be right this offseason in certain areas. If we're able to get it done, we'll be able to close that gap much sooner than most people expect."

But a big-time curveball could be thrown into Frazier's offseason plans.

It's looking more like a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association won't be done by next Thursday, meaning a lockout could begin Friday.

NFL coaches reportedly would not be allowed to have any contact with players once the lockout begins. "We're going to find out in the days and weeks to come what the parameters are," Frazier said. "I'm sure the league -- whether it's at the owners' meetings or whatever -- they're going to notify us about what we can and can't do."

At the minimum, a lockout would mean there would be no offseason workouts, no classroom sessions, no mandatory minicamps. That would be considered a major setback for Frazier and new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, who would be unable to begin installing a system that will have some differences from the West Coast style Brad Childress used.

The Vikings also are exploring the quarterback market with the potential of drafting one. A lockout would keep that player out of Winter Park and potentially slow his development.

Although he was the Vikings' interim coach for the final six games of 2010, Frazier wasn't named to the full-time job until a day after the season ended. That means as a first-year coach he is eligible to hold two mandatory minicamps instead of one. Frazier is planning for the first to be in April before the draft and would enable him to get in extra work with his veterans.

Meanwhile, employees at Winter Park did get some good news recently. Frazier said ownership recently informed staff members that there won't be any immediate layoffs or pay cuts if there is a work stoppage.

This threat has created uncertainty in many organizations.

The New York Jets have announced they will start forcing employees on the business side of operations to take unpaid leave in the event of a lockout. Larry Kennan, executive director of the NFL Coaches Association, has told Sirius NFL Radio that he expects some teams to start immediate layoffs of assistant coaches and that most assistants who are laid off will have to take a salary reduction of 25 to 50 percent.

"The Wilf family assured all the Vikings employees, including the coaches, there were not going to be any layoffs, there were not going to be any pay cuts, that they would circle back at some point and discuss what would happen down the line," Frazier said.