[CBFF] AP - Vikings' Childress clams up with media after first loss

[Steve Behrens]

I just finished listening to his radio show.  I have to say that he's going
to be a real pain for the media around here.  Every question that was put to
him... and I mean *EVERY ONE*.... was met with a ' well, what you mean
exactly?' or disagreement in general type of response.  He could not just
take one question at face value and answer it.  My impression was ' what a
bleeping @ss hole'.   He obviously pissed with any injury discussion and
wouldn't even reveal who the 3rd (emergency) QB was if needed, apparently
because he felt it would give the opponent some type of advantage.

It didn't take long for me to really not like this guy.  I hope we kick his
butt on a consistent basis for a long time.

-Behr


On 9/25/06, Tom Shannon <tshanno at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ouch.  This is the kind of mistake a HC can make once.  After that, he's
> going to get hammered.
>
> Like I said, the Vikings may not recover easily from this.  They know they
> played about as well as they can and they still lost.  Its only downhill
> after this year because Ziggy Wilf is going to cut that team to pieces.
>
> Tom S.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com [mailto:cbff-
> > bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Jerry Madsen
> > Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 7:18 PM
> > To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> > Subject: [CBFF] AP - Vikings' Childress clams up with media after first
> > loss
> >
> > Sunday, September 24, 2006
> > Vikings' Childress clams up with media after first loss
> > By Jon Krawczynski
> > Associated Press
> >
> > MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time in this young season, the Minnesota
> > Vikings are facing some adversity.
> >
> > If the way the head coach handled it after Sunday's deflating loss to
> > division rival Chicago, it could be a long year.
> >
> > After the first regular season loss of his head coaching career, Brad
> > Childress made a brief opening statement to the media, quickly
> > answered just three questions, then headed for the door.
> >
> > It was a shocking display from a man who has done nothing but preach
> > about character and accountability since the moment he took over nine
> > months ago, and a stark contrast to the class and responsibility
> > Carolina coach John Fox showed in the Metrodome one week ago.
> >
> > It's easy to answer questions when you're winning. When you've pulled
> > out two last-second victories in the first two weeks, one with the
> > help of a very gutsy fake field goal call, anybody can field inquiries
> > from an adoring media contingent about how things went just right.
> >
> > What makes an NFL coach's job infinitely more difficult -- and less
> > desirable -- is standing before the firing squad after a loss like
> > this one. A game that you had in the palm of your hand with just
> > minutes to play. A game that slipped away in the blink of an eye. A
> > game in which you made several decisions that fans are going to want
> > to know about.
> >
> > The Vikings led Chicago 16-12 and had the ball late in the fourth
> > quarter. Game over, right?
> >
> > But the normally reliable Chester Taylor fumbled a handoff, giving the
> > Bears the ball at the Minnesota 37. Five plays later, Rex Grossman hit
> > Rashied Davis for a 24-yard touchdown and a 19-16 lead.
> >
> > Still, the Vikings had the ball with good field position and plenty of
> > time left to pull off another comeback.
> >
> > On third-and-7 at their own 41, Childress called a draw to Mewelde
> > Moore that gained 5 yards, caused them to burn one of their two
> > remaining timeouts, and left them with a fourth-and-2.
> >
> > Then Brad Johnson threw the ball deep to Troy Williamson, taking a
> > chance on the big play rather than going for a safer pass to keep the
> > chains moving. The ball fell harmlessly to the turf and Grossman
> > kneeled to close out the victory.
> >
> > To his credit, at least Childress did address why they called for such
> > a risky pass with the game on the line.
> >
> > "We just tried to throw it to a playmaker," Childress said. "Troy has
> > been good for us and he had man-to-man coverage out there."
> >
> > He then talked briefly about the team's blitzing philosophy and
> > dismissed a question about injuries on the offensive line before
> > exiting, leaving so many questions unanswered.
> >
> > Why was cornerback Fred Smoot benched for the first series of the game?
> >
> > Why the draw on third-and-7?
> >
> > What did you say to Taylor after such a tough play?
> >
> > That's what leaders do. They stand up and take the heat when things
> > don't go their way, like Fox did so impressively a week before after
> > the Vikings beat the Panthers in overtime.
> >
> > The veteran coach all but handed that one to the Purple when he called
> > for a throwback on a punt return with a seven-point lead in the fourth
> > quarter. Chris Gamble's wobbly throw eventually wound up in the hands
> > of the Vikings, and kicker Ryan Longwell's TD pass to Richard Owens
> > sent the game into overtime.
> >
> > After one of the bigger mistakes of his coaching career, Fox stood in
> > front of reporters and accepted the blame for the call, and answered
> > questions about the Panthers' 0-2 start.
> >
> > He did it like a pro.
> >
> > Childress has done an excellent job of restoring order and instilling
> > a sense of professionalism to a team that very much needed both after
> > Zygi Wilf finally canceled the Mike Tice Amateur Hour. Practices are
> > more organized, game plans are tighter and players have been held
> > accountable for off-the-field transgressions.
> >
> > But his conduct after the game on Sunday lacked all of that, and more.
> >
> > It's acceptable to lose a game, especially one as close and tough as
> this
> > one.
> >
> > It's acceptable to make an error in judgment or make a bad call when
> > the spotlight is shining brightest.
> >
> > The only thing that is unacceptable is clamming up in the aftermath
> > when one or both of those things happen.
> >
> > Let's hope this was just a rookie mistake. Childress is doing this for
> > the first time, after all, and some growing pains are inevitable.
> >
> > Of course it's better to have those pains in the pressroom than on the
> > field. But it doesn't make it right.
> >
> > --
> > http://blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
> >
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