Brad Childress Fired

Another NFL coach bites the dust after being served a devastating loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

First, Wade Phillips of the Cowboys got the axe.

Now, Vikings coach Brad Childress has been canned.

Vikes' Childress Goes the Way of Wade Phillips

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer has reported, and the Minnesota Vikings have confirmed that Brad Childress has officially gone the way of Wade Phillips, and received his walking papers midseason. Childress was fired Monday, following the Vikings 33-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Of course, the last straw for Phillips came just two weeks earlier, in the form of a 45-7 loss to those very same Packers. Since that point, Dallas has gone 2-0 under interim head coach Jason Garrett, and Minnesota, in the midst of a remarkably tumultuous season, the Vikings presumably would like to see a similar change.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will take over as the Vikings’ interim head coach.

I don't expect to see much improvement from the Vikings with Frazier at the helm. He still is stuck with Favre. The best coaching can't keep Favre from throwing his trademark interceptions.

Maybe less drama with Childress gone will make Favre a happier camper and things will click better for the Vikings.

It's too little too late. Favre is definitely too little.
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An interesting bit of trivia:

Childress has become the second coach to lose his job largely because of Favre’s foibles, after Eric Mangini, who was fired after the 2008 season, Favre’s lone year with the Jets.

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Here's a statement from the Minnesota Vikings:

The Minnesota Vikings have relieved Brad Childress of his head coaching duties. Leslie Frazier has been named Interim Head Coach and will serve in that capacity for the remainder of the season.

Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf and Leslie Frazier will address the media at 3:00 p.m. CT today in the Winter Park fieldhouse.

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Here's a statement from Brad Childress:

Former Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress issued the following statement after he was relieved of his coaching duties by the Vikings earlier today:

"The past five years have been a tremendous experience for my family and I as the Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings. I have a great respect for the players and coaches who I have worked with and for their dedication to each other and to the organization. I am proud of our accomplishments and believe the foundation of this football team is stronger today than when I became Head Coach in 2006. I appreciate the opportunity that Zygi, Mark, and the whole Wilf family afforded me and wish them success as they move forward."

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My guess is the 50th Season Celebration event for the Vikings, scheduled for December 19, 2010, will have a tinge of disappointment because of the messy way Season 50 has played out.

And of course, last season holds a bitter memory (for Vikings fans), when Favre denied the Vikings a trip to the Super Bowl by throwing an interception.