Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress' job secure through 2008, owner Zygi Wilf says

Below is an article I came across I'd like to share. The title speaks for itself, and I was wondering what you though of this all. Please read the article and post a comment for me. I will then print off the article and send it and all the comments to Mr. Wilf and the Wilf family. Hope you enjoy, and thank you.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Moments after Brad Childress presided over a key victory, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf guaranteed his handpicked coach's job security through the 2008 season.

After a disappointing 4-6 start, Childress was speculated to be on the hot seat, according to national Web sites, and he was bashed in Vikings forums by fans, including one who started a Fire Brad Childress Web site. But Wilf, who hasn't publicly commented on the Vikings in more than a month, dismissed any possibility of his coach being ousted after this season.

Asked if Childress would return in 2008, regardless of how this season concludes, Wilf said, "Absolutely."

"There was never a question," Wilf said. "You need time for a team to coalesce and to get together. This is the ultimate team sport, and everyone has to play their part, and it will take some time. And we're doing it, and everyone is stepping up."

Despite the Vikings' rocky start, Wilf said, he was confident his team would right its season.

"There never was a doubt in my mind that this team would work together and get to where we're going to be, which is (to be) a contender," he said.
"We're going to get to the playoffs, with this hard work."

At 5-6 with five games remaining, the Vikings have little room for error. But Wilf said he is encouraged by the positive steps that his franchise has taken under Childress, and he defended remarks that the Vikings were "lucky" to land running back Adrian Peterson.

"Everyone

kept saying, 'You were lucky in the draft,' " Wilf said. "I will tell you something. You shouldn't depend on luck. You need to depend on good people. Good players. Good staff. Good personnel guys."

Wilf noted that in addition to Peterson, the Vikings drafted receiver Sidney Rice, who has scored three touchdowns this season, including a 60-yarder Sunday against the New York Giants.

"This is an organizational effort, from personnel, to coaches, to players," Wilf said. "Everyone has a part in it, and we all try to do the best we can to help each other."

In the midst of his third season as owner, Wilf said Sunday was his most enjoyable day, with his Vikings routing the team for whom he rooted for most of his life.

"It was enjoyable because of the way we played, and the way we were able to put it away, on both sides of the ball," Wilf said. "Everybody realized how important this game was, and we all stepped up and we all responded. We didn't slack off in the second half."

Wilf, dressed in a black suit, was seen racing down the Vikings' sideline as Dwight Smith returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Wilf even entered a prohibited area reserved for Vikings employees in official team garb.

His purple tie didn't count.

"I think they caught me on TV a couple of times, running down to catch Dwight Smith," said Wilf, who added that he would watch only from the sideline at Giants Stadium.

Asked how far he ran, Wilf said, "I don't know.

"I was strutting down. I was very excited. It was a very important part of the game. Things could have turned the other way, but we did not let up."

Wilf admitted that the 41-17 score was a surprise, but he noted that everyone stepped up, rattling off players such as quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, safety Darren Sharper and linebacker E.J. Henderson.

"Everyone really showed their form today," Wilf said.

But his confidence in his team wasn't fleeting.

The morning after Thanksgiving, Wilf flew to the Twin Cities from New Jersey to attend the Vikings' Friday practice.

"I wanted to be with the team," said Wilf, who also visited the team Saturday night at its hotel. "I just wanted them to know I'm always thinking about them, and I wanted to really be with them on Thanksgiving Day weekend."