Frazier’s options down to one?

It looks like Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier won’t be finding new employment in Detroit or Denver, but he is still considered a viable candidate for at least one remaining head-coaching vacancy.

The Vikings apparently have dodged two bullets as it pertains to defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. The Broncos are going to announce today that they have hired a new head coach, according to multiple media reports, and the Lions may not be far behind.

Frazier was acknowledged as one of two finalists for the Denver head-coaching job, but despite having one of the worst defenses in the league, the organization went with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

As reported earlier, the Broncos conducted a lengthy second interview with McDaniels late last week, opening the door for the hire. A press conference is expected later today to make the signing official.

The Lions may be heading in a different direction as well. Armed with the league’s worst defense, Frazier interviewed with Detroit officials Friday, but, when Tennessee got eliminated from the playoffs by Baltimore, the Titans assistant coaches became fair game. The Lions are scheduled to meet with Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz today, which would be the second meeting between him and Lions officials. The team interviewed Schwartz Jan. 3 while Tennessee was on its bye week, but owner William Clay Ford was unable to attend that interview. Under league rules, had the Titans won last weekend, the Lions or any other prospective team could not talk to their coaches until after their season was finished.

For those in Vikings Country that want Frazier to remain with the team, having Denver out of play and Detroit chasing after someone else has to be viewed as a positive sign.

MONDAY NOTES

The Vikings may not be out of the woods yet. Despite not having a preliminary interview with the Rams, the St. Louis media is proclaiming Frazier one of two known finalists for the Rams head coaching vacancy, along with interim head coach Jim Haslett. Frazier is scheduled to meet with Rams officials in Los Angeles Tuesday. Frazier was able to skip the first batch of interviews because Rams general manager Billy Devaney interviewed him last year while working with the Falcons and conducting a head-coaching search there. Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan remains a possibility, but with the Ravens still in the Super Bowl hunt, no decision can be announced regarding his candidacy.

So much for home-field advantage in the playoffs. After the home teams won both games on the Saturday of wild card weekend, road teams won five straight games prior to Pittsburgh holding serve against a banged-up San Diego squad.

In related non-blackout news, word out of Arizona was that tickets for the NFC Championship Game sold out in six minutes – not too shabby for a team that needed two extensions (like the Vikings) to sell out their wild-card game. A couple of postseason wins tends to make for more fanatic believers.

With the success of the Eagles over the last month and a half, the likelihood of Donovan McNabb being traded this offseason have all but disappeared.

Jared Allen was a popular choice on Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN. He was his typical glib self and provided some fair insight into what to expect from Sunday’s games.