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10-13-2005, 03:33 PM
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NFL Notebook: Vikings' boat ride goes wild
Crews complain of lewd behavior
Thursday, October 13, 2005
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER NEWS SERVICES
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Investigators are looking into a party attended by 17 Minnesota Vikings players that allegedly involved drunkenness, nudity and visible sexual activity on a pair of charter cruises last week.
No criminal charges had been filed as of Wednesday, and it could take a couple of weeks before investigators finish interviewing people who were on the boats, said Sgt. Haans Vitek of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. A police report was filed Sunday.
"It doesn't make things any simpler," coach Mike Tice said Wednesday, "and quite frankly I'm not happy about it."
The scandal has put the team's bid for a new stadium and its standing among fans and community leaders in jeopardy.
"If the allegations are true, it's awful," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty. "We understand that athletes aren't necessarily role models, but we at least expect them to abide by the basic laws of the state."
Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boats' owners, has said cornerback Fred Smoot paid for one of the cruises last Thursday on Lake Minnetonka. Doyle provided the team with a list of 17 Vikings players among about 90 people on the two boats, which returned to shore more than two hours earlier than scheduled when crew members complained of lewd behavior. Not all Vikings players are alleged to have taken part in sex-related activities.
Tice, whose team has struggled to a 1-3 start this year, said Wednesday that the latest distraction "can tear a team apart or bring us together, and it's my job to bring the team together."
Smoot said Wednesday after practice that he was planning to take legal action against whomever "put my name in there."
The team released a one-paragraph statement Tuesday saying: "The organization has been made aware of the allegations involving our players and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working diligently to gather as many facts as possible. At this time, we have no further comment."
FINES: Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber was fined $30,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for punching an official during a scuffle with another player during last Sunday's game with the Jets.
Two Baltimore players, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed, were fined $15,000 each for making contact with an official during a game in Detroit.
SIGNINGS: Jeremy Shockey, the New York Giants' flamboyant and sometimes spectacular tight end, signed a five-year, $31.2 million contract extension that his agent says makes him the NFL's highest-paid player at his position. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus. ... Kellen Winslow Jr. and the Browns are close to a one-year contract extension that will give him a chance to recoup some money forfeited when he was injured in a May 1 motorcycle accident.
QUICK HITTERS: Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams, coming back from a one-year retirement and four-game suspension at the start of this season for violating the NFL drug policy, took part in his first regular-season practice since 2003. Coach Nick Saban said Williams will play Sunday at Tampa Bay, sharing carries with rookie Ronnie Brown. ... Atlanta Falcons LB Ed Hartwell (torn Achilles tendon), Falcons CB Chris Cash (broken arm), Buffalo defensive tackle Ron Edwards (shoulder), New Orleans RB Deuce McAllister (torn ACL) and San Francisco linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (born biceps) were all placed on injured reserve with season-ending injuries. ... Cleveland WR Braylon Edwards was released from the hospital Wednesday but might not play for a month while recovering from an infected right arm. It was not known if Edwards has a staph infection, which could sideline him longer. ... Minnesota WR Nate Burleson and nickel CB Brian Williams, both nursing sprained knees, will miss Sunday's game at Chicago. Burleson is from Seattle.
© 1998-2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
NFL Notebook: Vikings' boat ride goes wild
Crews complain of lewd behavior
Thursday, October 13, 2005
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER NEWS SERVICES
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Investigators are looking into a party attended by 17 Minnesota Vikings players that allegedly involved drunkenness, nudity and visible sexual activity on a pair of charter cruises last week.
No criminal charges had been filed as of Wednesday, and it could take a couple of weeks before investigators finish interviewing people who were on the boats, said Sgt. Haans Vitek of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. A police report was filed Sunday.
"It doesn't make things any simpler," coach Mike Tice said Wednesday, "and quite frankly I'm not happy about it."
The scandal has put the team's bid for a new stadium and its standing among fans and community leaders in jeopardy.
"If the allegations are true, it's awful," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty. "We understand that athletes aren't necessarily role models, but we at least expect them to abide by the basic laws of the state."
Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boats' owners, has said cornerback Fred Smoot paid for one of the cruises last Thursday on Lake Minnetonka. Doyle provided the team with a list of 17 Vikings players among about 90 people on the two boats, which returned to shore more than two hours earlier than scheduled when crew members complained of lewd behavior. Not all Vikings players are alleged to have taken part in sex-related activities.
Tice, whose team has struggled to a 1-3 start this year, said Wednesday that the latest distraction "can tear a team apart or bring us together, and it's my job to bring the team together."
Smoot said Wednesday after practice that he was planning to take legal action against whomever "put my name in there."
The team released a one-paragraph statement Tuesday saying: "The organization has been made aware of the allegations involving our players and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working diligently to gather as many facts as possible. At this time, we have no further comment."
FINES: Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber was fined $30,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for punching an official during a scuffle with another player during last Sunday's game with the Jets.
Two Baltimore players, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed, were fined $15,000 each for making contact with an official during a game in Detroit.
SIGNINGS: Jeremy Shockey, the New York Giants' flamboyant and sometimes spectacular tight end, signed a five-year, $31.2 million contract extension that his agent says makes him the NFL's highest-paid player at his position. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus. ... Kellen Winslow Jr. and the Browns are close to a one-year contract extension that will give him a chance to recoup some money forfeited when he was injured in a May 1 motorcycle accident.
QUICK HITTERS: Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams, coming back from a one-year retirement and four-game suspension at the start of this season for violating the NFL drug policy, took part in his first regular-season practice since 2003. Coach Nick Saban said Williams will play Sunday at Tampa Bay, sharing carries with rookie Ronnie Brown. ... Atlanta Falcons LB Ed Hartwell (torn Achilles tendon), Falcons CB Chris Cash (broken arm), Buffalo defensive tackle Ron Edwards (shoulder), New Orleans RB Deuce McAllister (torn ACL) and San Francisco linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (born biceps) were all placed on injured reserve with season-ending injuries. ... Cleveland WR Braylon Edwards was released from the hospital Wednesday but might not play for a month while recovering from an infected right arm. It was not known if Edwards has a staph infection, which could sideline him longer. ... Minnesota WR Nate Burleson and nickel CB Brian Williams, both nursing sprained knees, will miss Sunday's game at Chicago. Burleson is from Seattle.
© 1998-2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer