Childress talks QB

INDIANAPOLIS--Vikings coach Brad Childress said today that the team would consider taking Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn with the seventh pick of the April 28-29 NFL draft but said that is no reflection on current quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger.

“No. 1, we’re going to let those two guys compete,” Childress said. “I have not named a starting quarterback right now. However, it doesn’t hurt anything to have a third guy there competing.”

Childress said he mentioned the possibility of adding a third quarterback to Jackson when they met at last month’s Senior Bowl and that last year’s second-round pick was fine with it.

As for Quinn, Childress said they’ll sit down for an interview at some point during this week’s NFL scouting combine.

“Obviously, he’s a good football player who played well for a long time,” Childress said.

--Childress said defensive end Erasmus James was in Denver recently for a follow-up procedure on the knee he had surgically repaired last season. Childress said James should be good to go for training camp but not minicamp.

--Childress had no comment on when or whether the Vikings might release cornerback Fred Smoot, quarterback Brad Johnson and some other veteran players but strongly indicated that safety Dwight Smith will not be let go.

“He’s the starter, as far as I’m concerned,” Childress said. “He gave a very good accounting of himself last season.”

--Don Seeholzer