Changes

NFL Insiders Jason La Canfora and Ian Rapoport filed separate and different reports that Leslie Frazier's days as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings are coming to an end. CBS Insider Jason La Canfora reported that the Vikings have contacted Penn St. head coach Bill O'Brien. La Canfora also reported that the Houston Texans have reached out to O'Brien as well. One can only assume that this contact was to gauge his interest in returning to the NFL. O'Brien was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots from 2007-11. NFL Media Insider Rapoport reported Sunday on "NFL GameDay Morning" that the prospects of Frazier returning in 2014 are said to be "grim," according to team sources and sources familiar with the thinking of Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf. Rapoport went on to report that he was told that the Vikings will target a young coach-likely a current NFL assistant-with "star power." This last part tends to run against La Canfora's report that the Vikings are interested in O'Brien. All indications are that Vikings general manager Rick Spielman will return next year. If the reports are true and Frazier is looking at his last two weeks as the Vikings coach, Spielman's own future with the team will be determined by the success of the coach that he selects.

It's pretty easy to see the reasoning in the rumors that Leslie Frazier's Vikings coaching career is coming to a close. In three seasons, he's posted records of 3-13, 10-6 and, so far, 4-9-1. Not many coaches last long with season win totals of 3 and 4. Frazier is well-liked by everyone. Players and ownership. If he's to be fired, I can that imagine the Wilfs and Spielman are dreading the task of giving the bad news to their coach. Two poor seasons out of three are difficult to overcome. The Vikings were in a complete rebuild mode in 2011. That rebuild was made even more difficult by the ridiculous lockout. None of that was helped by the disastrous trade for Donovan McNabb. The 3-13 season was really no surprise. The 10-6 season last year was a miracle made possible by running back Adrian Peterson playing out of his mind and putting the team on his back. Peterson's play covered up a lot of flaws. The inability to close out games, poor defense, and a circus at quarterback torpedoed this season. The inability to find stability at quarterback plagued Frazier's three years as the Vikings coach. In his favor and the one thing that could save his job is that his team has absolutely not quit on him. Not in 2011. Not when they needed four consecutive wins to make the playoffs in 2012. Not this season. No matter how bad things got the team kept fighting. They players continue to fight for their coach.

I can see both sides to this decision of whether to make a coaching change. The NFL has become a "you have to win now" league. There's no patience anymore. I think that some things take a while to develop. Some patience might be rewarded. Not every team lucks into a quarterback like Andrew Luck at the same time that Peyton Manning is, supposedly, winding down. There's often a lot of luck in finding that franchise quarterback. The Green Bay Packers got lucky when Aaron Rodgers slid in the draft. The New England Patriots got lucky when they took a shot with Tom Brady in the sixth round. The New Orleans Saints, much like the Denver Broncos, got lucky when another team gave up on a quarterback with a pretty serious injury. The Saints lucked into Drew Brees. The Denver Broncos lucked into Manning. The Vikings have had no such luck with quarterbacks. If Christian Ponder had played like a quarterback that deserved to be selected with the 12th pick, Leslie Frazier is likely coaching a team that is headed to the 2013 NFL Playoffs. He would likely be looking at a contract extension. The difference between the Vikings and the teams looking toward the playoffs is a quarterback. The 48 points scored against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday is an indication of what the Vikings can do with solid quarterback play. Matt Cassel was great. The team has some weapons that will make a quarterback very happy. I feel like Frazier deserves a shot with a dependable quarterback. The defense also has some holes that need to be filled but quarterback has long been the most pressing need. As Peterson showed last year, one player, more often a quarterback, can cover for some blemishes. I feel like Frazier hasn't been given a decent shot because he hasn't been given a decent quarterback. Sometimes, even in the NFL, showing some patience can be a good thing. I just think that he deserves a chance to coach a team with a better plan at quarterback. It appears that Ponder was the wrong choice but was he Frazier's choice? If the Vikings show Frazier the door, I will understand that decision. It's tough to accept two sad seasons out of three. When Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager, he inherited Frazier. A general manager should be given the opportunity to select his head coach.
It's unfortunate situation as I don't think that Frazier was given the best opportunity to succeed.