BS: We know the Lions are interested in you. Are you interested in the Lions? Are there some teams that just don't have a high level of interest to you?

LF: I don't know if you can say no to a team that might call. There are 32 NFL teams, and you've got to be willing to listen. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to take the job. There's nothing wrong with listening.

BS: After the season the Vikings' defense has had (ranking sixth overall in the NFL and first against the run), do you think you'll be hearing from just about every NFL team with an opening for a head coach?

LF: It's hard to say. It's hard to predict. Some people probably already have in mind who they want to hire. It's just the way it goes.

BS: Mike Tomlin was the defensive coordinator with the Vikings before you. After one season here in Minnesota, he became the head coach of the Steelers. You're not as outgoing and gregarious as Tomlin, and those personality traits apparently appealed to the Steelers. You're more low-key. Do you think you're too low-key for some teams but the perfect fit for others?

LF: I would think that might be the case. I believe that who I am might not fit certain situations and might fit others better.

BS: Your demeanor often has been compared with Tony Dungy's. (Frazier was one of Dungy's assistant coaches with the Indianapolis Colts before becoming the Vikings' defensive coordinator.) Is that a fair comparison to Tony and you?

LF: I do agree with that. I can remember before Tony and I ever met, people used to say, "You're a lot like Tony Dungy." And when we finally met and began to be around each other and talk a lot, there were similarities. When we worked together and I watched how he handled himself in practice, I was like, "Wow. That's me." It was so weird. He went through the same thing that I will go through and have gone through, where people assume because you're not a boisterous guy or, as you mentioned, a gregarious guy, you're not going to get the respect of the players. Or, you're not going to be able to have a disciplined team. He missed out on some jobs because of that. Then he finally got a head-coaching job, and now he's a Hall of Fame coach. So I know that, for some, it might not be a good fit. But that's OK. If I get an opportunity and someone hires me, they'll know who I am, and they'll hire me for who I am.

BS: What does your gut tell you? Will you be with the Vikings again next season, or will you be an NFL head coach?

LF: I haven't thought about it a whole lot. It's just hard to say. I love what we're doing (with the Vikings). And I think things are just going to get better and better and better. I can live with being here and helping this team get to the Super Bowl another year. But if an opportunity came to be a head coach and I was offered a job, it's hard to say no. We'll see how it unfolds.

BS: Do you feel it's your destiny to be an NFL head coach?

LF: I don't know if it's my destiny. There are so many things that happen in this business that are so wacky. I don't even think of it that way.

BS: A few questions about Sunday's game. You once were an assistant coach with the Eagles, and you know their defense. Have you spent time this week talking with (Vikings offensive coordinator) Darrell Bevell to give him some tips and insight?

LF: We've talked, and (Vikings coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator) Brad (Childress), in turn, has talked to me about Philly's offense. We've talked, and I've tried to share whatever I can share. They've made some changes since I left, but yeah. It does help that we know each other.

BS: Pat Williams (fractured scapula) has been practicing this week. Are you worried about him hurting himself more by trying to play? If he's not close to 100 percent, should he play?

LF: If he can't protect himself, we can't put him out there. As much as we need him, you can't run the risk of doing further damage and maybe doing career-threatening damage. It wouldn't be worth it. He's too valuable to our organization.

BS: Who makes that determination? Chances are, Pat is going to tell you he's fine. Players lie.

LF: Yes, because they want to play, especially in a game like this. Our head coach and our trainers and our doctors will make that determination.

BS: There's a lot of talk about the Eagles blitzing Tarvaris Jackson. Do you have a few blitz packages prepared for Donovan McNabb?

LF: We'll have something for him. I don't know if we can get to him, but we'll have something.

BS: Your defense has had a good season. Have you had the time to sit back and wonder how good the defense would have been if middle linebacker E.J. Henderson hadn't been lost for the season? (He suffered a season-ending foot injury in the fourth game.)

LF: It's hard not to think about E.J. He was on pace, I believe, to be defensive MVP of this league, the way he started the season. It's unfortunate he got hurt. I believe we'd be pretty good with him in the lineup. He's a great player and a great person.