Sherman Lewis replaced Ray Sherman as offensive coordinator, the same role he had in Green Bay for the last eight seasons, in the latest staff shakeup at Winter Park.

Sherman resigned rather than accept a demotion to coach the wide receivers.

Coach Dennis Green said the switch was more a matter of Lewis' availability that it was an indictment of Sherman's performance.

Sherman took a lot of heat when the Vikings stumbled to a 2-4 start with Randall Cunningham at quarterback but was praised when they went 9-3 behind Jeff George and finished with the league's third-best offense, averaging 362 yards a game.

"We made a change because there was an opportunity to bring in the pre-eminent offensive coordinator in the game," Green said.

Lewis, who was fired along with the entire Packers' coaching staff on Jan. 3, was approached about the job on Saturday, a day before Green informed Sherman of the switch.

"I just take it as a great compliment that I'm the guy to come in and help get him to the top," Lewis said.

Green also fired tight ends coach Dave Atkins, replacing him with John Tice, named John Fontes outside linebackers coach and reassigned receivers coach Hubbard Alexander to research and development assistant.

Fontes, the younger brother of former Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes, spent five seasons as defensive backs coach for Detroit from 1992-96.

Tice moves to tight ends coach after spending this past season as an assistant. Tice, the brother of Vikings offensive line coach Mike Tice, played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints from 1983-92.

Atkins told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Monday he couldn't believe he was fired.

"Denny said it was just a change of chemistry that he wanted," Atkins said. "That's the only reason. He couldn't look me in the eye and tell me I didn't do a good job with my guys."

Atkins, 50, spent three seasons as the team's tight ends coach and is a 14-year NFL assistant. He said he is exploring coaching options.

The changes follow last week's departure of defensive coordinator Foge Fazio, who left to become linebackers coach with the Washington Redskins. Fazio, who insisted he left for personal reasons, departed a few days after Green fired inside linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti without telling Fazio.

The Vikings have been in no hurry to name Fazio's replacement, leading to speculation Green was considering Herman Edwards, the assistant head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose season ended Sunday.

"I don't think it's a delay," Green said. "I think we just haven't named one yet. I mean, that doesn't mean we don't have one."

Sherman said Green never told him why he was replacing him after just one season: "He really didn't have a reason, all he said was chemistry.

"We had the No. 3 offense in the league and I don't understand what I would be a scapegoat for," he told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "I will wait to see what my options are.

"I thought in this profession it was based on what you've done lately," he told the Pioneer Press. "When we struggled early this season, I stood up and took responsibility for that. I didn't duck it. And then we had success. And I took my share of credit for that."

Sherman said there was no way he was going to stay on the staff.

"I wouldn't do that because I wouldn't do Hubbard Alexander, our receivers coach, that way," Sherman said. "I wouldn't say I'm bitter. I'm just disappointed in what has happened. I understand this is a business and this is the way it is. I'll just move on, let the smoke clear a little and see what's out there."

The switch in offensive coordinators fueled speculation that the Vikings won't be able to afford George because of salary cap constraints and will go into 2000 with Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper as their quarterbacks.

When reports surfaced last week that the Vikings had determined they couldn't keep George -- which the organization quickly deemed erroneous -- Sherman was among George's most adamant supporters. He said his strong stance might have had something to do with his departure.

"That could be true, I don't know," Sherman said. "But what am I supposed to say? A guy does a great job for us, a fantastic job, it would be ludicrous for me not to back him."

George and his agent, Leigh Steinberg, insist they want to stay with the Vikings. But Green has hinted over the last month that it was his system and not George's talents that allowed him to succeed in Minnesota after getting run out of Indianapolis, Atlanta and Oakland.

On Monday, Green refused to shed any light on the quarterback situation.

"We have never talked about anyone we're going to sign," he said. "We would never tell you what we're going to do."

Lewis said he would adapt his West Coast philosophy to the Vikings' high-powered offense regardless of who the quarterback is. He said he was thrilled to work with the likes of Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Robert Smith.

The Vikings still need a defensive coordinator and a receivers coach but appear done with the biggest coaching purge in Green's eight seasons as coach.

"I'm confident that the moves that we've made will make us a better football team," Green said.

The Vikings named Sherman Lewis, offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers for the last eight seasons, to replace Sherman. A news conference was set to announce coaching changes.

"Sherman Lewis is considered one of the premier offensive coordinators in the NFL," Green said in a written statement. "He brings a great deal of experience, and he's going to help us a lot.

"I felt we need changes to make us better. He is very familiar with the NFC Central Division, and that will be a strong plus for us."

During Lewis' time in Green Bay, the Packers were 83-45. He was fired recently along with the rest of the Green Bay staff.

Sherman said he was packing his things Monday.

"We had the No. 3 offense in the league and I don't understand what I would be a scapegoat for," he told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "I will wait to see what my options are. ... I am not going to stay here."

In other changes announced Monday, John Fontes was named outside linebackers coach and John Tice was named tight ends coach. Receivers coach Hubbard Alexander was reassigned to a front office job as research and development assistant.

Fontes spent five seasons as defensive backs coach for Detroit from 1992-96. He is the younger brother of former Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes.

Tice moves to tight ends coach after spending this past season as an assistant. Tice, the brother of Vikings offensive line coach Mike Tice, played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints from 1983-92.

Green had offered to make Sherman the receivers coach in a meeting at Winter Park on Sunday morning.

"No, I didn't see it coming," Sherman told the Saint Paul Pioneer Press late Sunday night.

Atkins told the Pioneer Press on Monday he couldn't believe he was fired.

"Denny said it was just a change of chemistry that he wanted," Atkins said. "That's the only reason. He couldn't look me in the eye and tell me I didn't do a good job with my guys."

Atkins, 50, spent three seasons as the team's tight ends coach and is a 14-year NFL assistant. He said he is exploring coaching options.

Sherman shouldered much of the blame for the Vikings' disappointing 2-4 start, which led to the benching of starting quarterback Randall Cunningham. But replacement Jeff George fared well under Sherman, and the Vikings finished third in the NFL in total offense, averaging 362 yards a game.

"I thought in this profession it was based on what you've done lately," he told the Pioneer Press. "When we struggled early this season, I stood up and took responsibility for that. I didn't duck it. And then we had success. And I took my share of credit for that."

The changes follow last week's departure of defensive coordinator Foge Fazio, who left to become linebackers coach with the Washington Redskins. Fazio, who insisted he left for personal reasons, departed a few days after Green fired inside linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti without telling Fazio.