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Last week, Ken Irvin checked in to catch up with the Vikings' search for a defensive coordinator. The Vikings' left cornerback wasn't sure he was hearing correctly. The news was too good. Perfect, really.
"Ted Cottrell? I couldn't believe he was the guy, because it was too good
to be true," said Irvin, who played under Cottrell in Buffalo from 1998-2000.
"If my defensive coordinator couldn't be George O'Leary, I'd pick it to
be Ted Cottrell... . This defense is in perfect hands."
Tuesday morning, Cottrell, fired as the New York Jets' coordinator because of philosophical differences with head coach Herman Edwards, agreed to a two-year contract worth nearly $400,000 a season. However, he will be paid more than $1 million because of remaining money on his Jets contract. Tickets
Every Vikings assistant is signed through the 2005 season, while head coach
Mike Tice's contract expires after next season. Owner Red McCombs has said he
will exercise Tice's option for the 2005 season.
Cottrell, 56, was the Vikings' first choice to replace O'Leary, who left last
month to become head coach at the University of Central Florida. Cottrell emerged
as Tice's top choice the day after he was fired by the Jets.
"I'm so happy this worked out; it's a great fit," Tice said. "It's
Ted's experience that really stood out to me. We're getting a very knowledgeable
and prepared football coach."
Tice interviewed Cottrell last Wednesday and Thursday, and Cottrell was offered
the two-year contract. Cottrell met with San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer
in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday and had a chance to interview with Pittsburgh
on Thursday. Cottrell decided Tuesday morning to take Tice's offer, becoming
the Vikings' fourth defensive coordinator in four years.
Cottrell is expected to coach the linebackers while Brian Baker will move to
the defensive line, where O'Leary coached. The Vikings likely will hire Bill
Bradley as a general defensive assistant. Bradley, a star defensive back for
the Eagles in the 1970s, was the Jets' defensive backs coach.
Cottrell has been a NFL assistant for 20 years and has been a coordinator for
the past six seasons, three each in Buffalo and with the Jets. Cottrell, a finalist
for the San Francisco head-coaching job last year, would like to be a head coach.
"If I do a good job here, I will be on head-coaching short lists again,"
Cottrell said. "That's what I what. But first, I want to do a good job
with the talent that's in Minnesota."
Irvin said Cottrell will fit in well with the Vikings because he adjusts to
the talent he has. Cottrell's defense starts with pressure from the defensive
tackle positions. He is excited to work with standout tackles Kevin Williams
and Chris Hovan.
"It starts up front and extends back," Cottrell said. "This defense
is close because it is so good up front... . Really, I don't expect to go and
change the defense. There are some pieces here, and we will work hard to make
it better."
Briefly: Tice is expected to interview assistant strength and conditioning coach
Daryl Lawrence for the top job that was vacated when Steve Wetzel joined former
Vikings coach Dennis Green in Arizona. Green is expected to interview former
Vikings assistant Alex Wood, now with Cincinnati, as offensive coordinator.
Emmitt Thomas, the Vikings' defensive coordinator in 2000-01, turned down Green
for the same job with the Cardinals.