Childress confirms it

Coach Brad Childress has confirmed that the Vikings have given the agent for wide receiver Troy Williamson permission to explore trade possibilities with other teams.

"It was a decision that we made as an organization," Childress said, adding that it was a "mutually agreeable situation" and agent David Canter "was happy to be able to have the latitude to do that."

Childress declined to put a time frame on a possible deal or to speculate on what the Vikings might able to get in return.

"You might be surprised," he said. "We'll see. I just know that all of a sudden, when (news) got out, I had three people grab me on the way out today. ... I wouldn't probably venture a guess."

Childress wouldn't say whether he preferred a draft choice or player for Williamson, the seventh overall selection of the 2005 draft, and wouldn't rule out him remaining with the Vikings if no team is willing to meet their price.

"We've allowed him to … go out and see what's out there," Childress said. "If it's something that's not satisfactory to us, then, like I said before, he's under contract to us."