New Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress put his first stamp on the team, firing defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-year-old defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin is believed to be the leading candidate to replace Cottrell. "I guess they just wanted to go in a different direction," Cottrell told the paper Sunday night. Other coaches known to have been let go were Wes Chandler (receivers), Dean Dalton (running backs), Mark Ellis (assistant strength and conditioning), Rich Olson (quarterbacks), Jim Panagos (assistant defensive line and special teams), Kevin Ross (assistant secondary), John Tice (tight ends, assistant offensive line) and Rusty Tillman (special teams).