Two weeks ago, we marveled at the lack of faith — or love — being directed toward the first-place Vikings and head coach Brad Childress. That was followed by a three-touchdown win at Arizona, an approval rating that shot way up, and talk of a possible first-round bye. And now, just one weekend of football later — four fumbles and a Packers meltdown included — the pendulum has swung so far back in the other direction that we have to ask you, dear readers, this: if the Vikings stumble and miss the playoffs with back-to-back home losses to end the regular season, will Childress be around for Year 4 of his contract? We’re not asking if you think he should be back. Just look at the situation at face value. Do you think owner Zygi Wilf would bring Childress back if the Vikings miss the playoffs?

Consider: The Vikings had won eight of their past 10 games before Sunday. It is not the coach’s fault that players put the ball on the carpet seven times against the Falcons, losing four fumbles in a game the Vikings otherwise should have won. Consider also the absurdity that Mason Crosby’s right foot might have put Childress on both the road to salvation and the road to ruin, even though his kicking is surely not something the coach can control. Also consider Wilf’s preference for patience … but also consider his taste for quick decisions. Said Wilf on Jan. 6, 2006, the day Childress was announced as the new Vikings coach, less than a week after Mike Tice was fired minutes after coaching the final game of the season:

“The people who think I’m panicky don’t know their football. How is that, OK? I’ll be quite blunt. I learned in the real estate business, when you’re going after something you want, you go after it quickly, decisively, and you make sure you get it. You make sure you get the person you want before the next person does.”

Wilf expressed supreme confidence in Childress during a Star Tribune Q&A just a few weeks ago. The question for you: will that confidence remain if this season ends Sunday?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 pm and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.