Author: David Shama

What’s the difference between 2-6 and 3-5?  Maybe somebody’s job, or even career.

Brad Childress will coach the Vikings next Sunday in Chicago.  There was opinion in the press box and on the street yesterday afternoon that Childress would lose his job if the Vikings couldn’t beat 3-4 Arizona at Mall of America Field.  That feeling was growing in the fourth quarter when the Vikings trailed Arizona 24-10 before a dramatic comeback led by 41-year-old quarterback Brett Favre and a resurgent defense that produced a 27-24 overtime victory.

A Vikings assistant was overhead in the locker room telling a well-wisher this: “We needed that one, buddy, for a lot of reasons.”

In the court of public opinion Childress is among the most unpopular coaches ever to lead a team in this town.  From the beginning, back in 2006, his outspoken confidence met with disapproval by some fans and media.  A 6-10 record that year didn’t help.  Since then the season records have been 8-8, 10-6 and 12-4, but there’s been minimal affection directed by fans toward Childress who have various rants including game management.

Last season’s NFC championship loss to New Orleans will long be remembered for the Vikings blunder of having 12 men on the field.  That closed a storybook season with bitter feelings for some observers.  Expectations this August were for another triumphant season but problems, some of them having nothing to do with Childress, have made for an ugly start to a 16-game schedule now half over.

Criticism has intensified in recent days leading up to yesterday’s game.  It resulted from not only the record and two-game losing streak but because of supposed conflict between players and Childress.  Alleged incidents with the now-departed Randy Moss, and also wide receiver Percy Harvin and defensive tackle Pat Williams, have been reported.

Those run-ins had observers wondering if Childress was losing his team, but the determined fourth quarter effort yesterday seemed to answer that question positively.  Still, there’s a solid argument to be made that Childress’ job security is week-to-week.

Ultimately keeping Childress is ownership’s decision.  A factor that may weigh in the decision is whether Childress told owners Zygi and Mark Wilf last week about his intent to get rid of Moss before Childress did so.  If so, that’s to his credit and the explanation had to help ease the feeling of giving up on a player only a few weeks after he was acquired for a 2011 third round draft choice.  If not, that could be a body blow to the trust relationship between the coach and team owners.

The Wilfs are more than passionate football fans; they’re sophisticated business people.  Sometime during this season or at the end they will make a business decision on what they think is best for the Vikings.  They approved the hiring of Childress and thought so highly of his work a year ago that he was given a five-year contract extension.

So the Wilfs have invested themselves emotionally and financially in their coach. But the opinion of critical fans and media counts for plenty.  Outside the stadium yesterday there were signs and chants calling for Childress to be fired.  During the game, the same chants were heard and the Vikings were loudly booed.  And on Twitter you can get in on the campaign: @FireChilly and @FireChildress.

An unpopular coach and losing team is not an asset for another campaign: the drive for legislative approval and public funding of a new stadium.  That stadium will increase the value of the Vikings franchise and sooner or later financially benefit the owners.

The Wilfs hired Childress, extended his contract, and opened their wallets to aggressively spend on player personnel.  They have expectations short and long term. They also understand perceptions, and in the court of public opinion the Childress supporters are a silent and slim minority.

How could Childress possibly turn around the public negativity?  Take his team to the Super Bowl.  Anything less than that will be his fault, even when it isn’t.

An almost miracle win yesterday makes the Super Bowl still a slight possibility.  But the only game that counts for Childress now is next week in Chicago where a lot fewer fans will be calling for his head.

Forward Rodney Williams had a modest freshman season for the Gophers, starting four of 32 games, averaging 4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks.  For those who haven’t seen him play, or practice, it must have been stunning to visit Nbadraft.net earlier this fall and see him projected as the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft.

A mock draft is just that, a hypothetical, but know this: NBA teams are salivating for prospects that combine basketball skills with athleticism.  Teams will draft prospects lacking experience and still teenagers.

The 6-7, 200 pound Williams played at Robbinsdale Cooper where his senior year numbers were modest: 15.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.  But Williams showed back then that he was a recruit to be coveted, a superb athlete who gracefully moved up and down the court.  The potential was there to be a great college player…scoring, rebounding and defending.  And top it all off with flair, using his extraordinary leaping ability to dunk the ball and block shots.  Even while in high school some observers saw a young man who belonged in the NBA slam dunk contest.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith was asked by Sports Headliners for his reaction to the lofty place Nbadraftnet.com positioned Williams.  “I would say, wow.  What a great thing,” Smith answered.  “I pray that’s the case.  That would be beautiful for him, for us and for his family.

“I think he’s capable.  I think he has that type of potential, if he’s willing to work.  But let’s just say this.  He has a long way to go, a lot to prove.  If he does that, he’s going to be all right.

“But at this point he ain’t no 11 pick.  But he could and I hope and pray that he is.  I hope he’s a No. 1 pick (first player chosen). That’s my goal. That’s my dream for him is to be the best player in college basketball.”

Williams started at small forward for the Gophers last Tuesday night, contributing 13 points on six of eight shooting in 22 minutes in the team’s 109-59 exhibition game win over Northeastern State.  He also blocked three shots.

The Gophers play Winona State at home tonight, their second and final exhibition game.