The interesting aspect of the situation is whether Minnesota could lose him to another DC job, given that he is not under contract. O’Connell insisted he didn’t see that happening.
“Based on my conversations with him and obviously his interest and desire for us to get something done, I don’t [anticipate that],” O’Connell said, admitting he understood why the question was asked since the Vikings’ season ends Sunday.
“I know he enjoys being here. I know him and I, just from our recent conversation, that he feels a lot about me and I do about him,” O’Connell added. “Hopefully I can get on that podium and say, ‘He’s going to be here as long as we can keep him here before another team makes him their head coach.’
Until this press conference has a new contract signed, there will be rumors of another team potentially poaching him from Minnesota – chatter about Cowboys Jerry Jones trying to trade DC Matt Eberflus for Flores has already begun.
Finally, money talks. If Flores doesn’t get the head coaching job, he has the strength to be the highest paid DC in the NFL, in Minnesota or elsewhere.