Three Vikings named PFW All-NFL

While the Vikings had four players named to the Associated Press All-Pro team last week, three of those players made the Pro Football Weekly All-NFL squad.

Three Vikings earned yet another postseason honor as they were selected by Pro Football Weekly to the 2008 All-NFL Team.

The three players – Adrian Peterson, Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Williams – tied the Vikings with Tennessee as the only teams with more than two players on the list. The Titans also had three players make the All-NFL team – center Kevin Mawae, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

A fourth Viking, cornerback Antoine Winfield, was named to the All-NFC Team. Jared Allen, the fourth Viking named to the Associated Press All-Pro team, missed out on being selected. Both of the NFC defensive ends, Justin Tuck of the Giants and John Abraham of the Falcons, were named to the All-NFL team ahead of him.

PFW is listed among the official All-NFL team sources kept by the Vikings in regard to postseason awards. The magazine has been handing out annual awards since 1971, ranging from the All-NFL Team to awards for the top rookie, coach, assistant coach, kicker and front office personnel.

THURSDAY NOTES

According to the NFL’s official website, Leslie Frazier and Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett top the St. Louis Rams’ short list of head coaching candidates for their job opening. Frazier interviewed for the position Tuesday and Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Rams front office began a second interview with Garrett later in the day Wednesday. A decision may be made as soon as Friday. The Rams still have an interview scheduled with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Contrary to published reports earlier in the week, Frazier doesn’t currently doesn’t have a second interview scheduled with the Lions. Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz remains the frontrunner to get the Detroit head coaching job.

We had another official Todd Lowber sighting Wednesday. Lowber, a track star with phenomenal speed who never played organized football, was signed by the Vikings two years ago and was a notable washout. He was later signed and eventually released by the Giants last year during training camp. He surfaced late in the season with Miami and was one of seven players signed to futures contracts by the Dolphins Wednesday.

Although there is no consensus as to whether he will play in 2009, there is a serious case of connect the dots being played concerning Gus Frerotte. The rumor is that if Frazier gets the Rams head-coaching job, he would likely bring Frerotte in as a backup QB to Marc Bulger. Frerotte’s family lives in St. Louis and he was abruptly let go following the 2007 season. But considering that G.M. Billy Devaney, who released Frerotte in the first place, is calling the shots in St. Louis, that rumor seems more like myth than reality unless current backup Trent Green plans to retire.

You get the impression that Jim Haslett isn’t a serious contender to keep the Rams head coaching job. Earlier this week, he interviewed with the Packers to become their new defensive coordinator.

Bears CB Charles Tillman had reconstructive shoulder surgery Wednesday. He is expected to be ready for next year’s training camp.

Cris Carter has found himself under some scrutiny for comments he made on the ESPN radio network in which he twice said that he would “shoot” Terrell Owens if he was coach of the Cowboys. Most fans know that former players make a name for themselves in sports broadcasting by being controversial, and Carter appears to be the latest in a growing list of broadcasters becoming part of the news story.