Childress dumps Cottrell, several other coaches

**singersp** · 01-09-2006, 11:55 AM

Posted on Mon, Jan. 09, 2006

[size=18px]New Vikings coach dumps Cottrell, several other coaches[/size]

BY SEAN JENSEN
St. Paul Pioneer Press

New Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress has notified several assistants, including defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, that they won't be retained.

Cottrell said Childress called him Sunday evening to inform him of his decision.

"He said he's going in a different direction," Cottrell said. "I just have to move on."

Special-teams coach Rusty Tillman and strength and conditioning assistant Mark Ellis said they both got the same news. And, according to Ellis, so did assistant secondary coach Kevin Ross, assistant defensive line coach Jim Panagos and receivers coach Wes Chandler.

Tight ends coach John Tice said he was unsure of his status.

Meanwhile, coverage coordinator Chuck Knox Jr., offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach Randy Hanson, defensive line coach Brian Baker, strength and conditioning coach Kurtis Shultz, and offensive quality coach Todd Downing are believed to be getting opportunities to interview with Childress for openings to remain with the Vikings.

The status of Rich Olson (quarterbacks), Dean Dalton (running backs) and Pete Bercich (linebackers) is unclear.

Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski couldn't be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary coach Mike Tomlin appears to be a leading candidate for Cottrell's position. Tomlin, who finished his fifth season as the Bucs' defensive backs coach, played at William & Mary with Vikings Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper.

Tomlin has consistently led one of the league's top secondaries, including in 2002, when his top-ranked unit had four of Tampa Bay's five interceptions, and returned two for touchdowns, in Super Bowl XXXVII.

**singersp** · 01-09-2006, 12:07 PM

From KFFL;

Vikings | J. Tice fired by team
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 23:07:44 -0800

Updating previous reports, the Star Tribune reports the Minnesota Vikings have fired assistant offensive line/tight ends coach John Tice.
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Vikings | Dalton fired by team
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 23:05:32 -0800

Updating previous reports, the Star Tribune reports the Minnesota Vikings have fired running backs coach Dean Dalton.
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Vikings | Downing allowed to interview with Childress
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 22:52:44 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings offensive quality coach Todd Downing is believed to be getting an opportunity to interview with new head coach Brad Childress for an opening to remain with the Vikings.
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Vikings | Shultz allowed to interview with Childress
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 22:51:44 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings strength and conditioning coach Kurtis Shultz is believed to be getting an opportunity to interview with new head coach Brad Childress for an opening to remain with the Vikings.
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Vikings | Baker allowed to interview with Childress
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 22:50:46 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings defensive line coach Brian Baker is believed to be getting an opportunity to interview with new head coach Brad Childress for an opening to remain with the Vikings.
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Vikings | Hanson allowed to interview with Childress
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 22:49:51 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach Randy Hanson is believed to be getting an opportunity to interview with new head coach Brad Childress for an opening to remain with the Vikings.
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Vikings | Knox Jr. allowed to interview with Childress
Sun, 8 Jan 2006 22:47:43 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings coverage coordinator Chuck Knox Jr. is believed to be getting an opportunity to interview with new head coach Brad Childress for an opening to remain with the Vikings.

**Mr. Purple** · 01-09-2006, 12:44 PM

Thank god that idoit is outta here.Bring on Tomlin!!

**singersp** · 01-09-2006, 01:18 PM

"WilliamsonOfTroy" wrote:

Thank god that idoit is outta here.Bring on Tomlin!!

Which idiot? I see several idiots listed! :grin:

**Lotza** · 01-09-2006, 01:21 PM

so mr childress is cleaning out the staff.

**PurplePeopleEaters** · 01-09-2006, 01:32 PM

I agree with all of this except the firing of Rusty Tillman. Rusty has done the best out of anyone on our staff. Our ST was really good this year.

**singersp** · 01-09-2006, 01:38 PM

"PurplePeopleEaters" wrote:

I agree with all of this except the firing of Rusty Tillman. Rusty has done the best out of anyone on our staff. Our ST was really good this year.

When refering to the assistant coaches, saying "Rusty has done the best out of anyone on our staff" isn't really saying much. :lol:

**Mr. Purple** · 01-09-2006, 01:39 PM

lol singer, its like racing honda civics, even if you win, your still retarded.

**singersp** · 01-09-2006, 01:43 PM

"WilliamsonOfTroy" wrote:

lol singer, its like racing honda civics, even if you win, your still Challenged Hillbilly Lover'd.

It's like saying he was the best turd in the toilet bowl.

He still stunk! :lol:

SamDawg84 · 01-09-2006, 01:49 PM

wtf!? why did he get rid of tillman?! he was our best coach basicly! and now i dont really care about cotrell really anymore. i just wanted the guy to do good in our d fence. and im kinda ticked off about kevin ross getting fired. he was the 1 working with b will and them people savin our butts