Cedric Griffin‘s season ended when he injured his left knee during the overtime-opening kickoff in the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings’ season was over shortly after that.

But the veteran cornerback had some good news Friday, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune that surgery to fix the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee “went pretty well.”

“The doctors and the trainers looked at it and there wasn’t too much swelling and the surgery went pretty quick and easy, so everyone is pretty excited,” Griffin said. “Just based off what everyone says, [rehabilitation is] anywhere from five to eight months, so anywhere in that range. I’m looking more in the range of six months, so I’m definitely going to be getting busy this offseason.”

As the Star Tribune notes, Griffin could return before the 2010 season starts if he’s back in six months. He had a career-high four interceptions in 2009, his fourth NFL season.

It was a good Friday for the Vikings, who also learned that Pro Bowl CB Antoine Winfield will not need surgery on his troublesome foot, a source told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Other interesting news items that hit the Web on Friday:

• Buccaneers LB Geno Hayes will be out until June minicamp because of surgery he had to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

• Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he can’t see his team using their franchise or transition tags this offseason.

• The Jets hired former NFL safety Mark Carrier to coach their defensive line.

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