Green Says He Won’t Sue Vikings
Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green has promised NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue he won’t try to sue for control of the team.
In a letter sent to the commissioner this week, Green said he misjudged reaction to the final chapter of his autobiography. In that chapter, Green threatened to buy at least 30 percent interest in the team, suing two or more of the team’s 10 owners for that share if need be.
“I assure you that I have no intention of trying to force my way into the Vikings’ ownership or pressuring any owners to sell an interest to me,” Green said in his letter.
Tagliabue also told Green and Vikings president Roger Headrick on Friday that any disputes between the coach and the team that cannot be resolved should be submitted to the commissioner for arbitration after the Vikings’ season ends.
That is the most definitive sign yet that Green may not be back in 1998 to fulfill the final year on his contract, for which he is scheduled to earn $900,000.
In a prepared statement, Tagliabue urged Green and the Vikings to end their public comments on the book. He will consider all future comments “conduct detrimental” to the team and the league.
Citing that directive, owner John Skoglund declined comment. Neither Headrick nor Philip Maas, chairman of the Vikings’ board, returned phone calls Friday night.
Vikings owners have indicated that the team is for sale and local ownership is a preference.
Vikings seek stadium deal
Like the Minnesota Twins, the Vikings want out of the Metrodome and they want to piggyback on the baseball team’s Nov. 30 deadline for legislative action.
In a special session Tuesday, lawmakers rejected all Twins stadium financing proposals. They are scheduled to reconvene Nov. 13. In the meantime, Gov. Arne Carlson has met with lawmakers to try to find a solution.
His spokeswoman said the Twins are his priority and he had no plans to meet with the Vikings.
In Friday’s editions of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Vikings president Roger Headrick said renovations to the Metrodome would be unacceptable and the team must either play in a new stadium with the Twins or have its own new stadium. The Twins say they don’t want a joint deal.
Around the league
Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston is out for the rest of the season after having neck surgery Friday. Johnston underwent surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas to repair a herniated neck disk… . The Redskins signed former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Chris Zorich on Friday and said he would play against his old team this weekend. To make room for Zorich, the Redskins released ex-Washington State Cougars defensive lineman Don Sasa, who played in one game as a substitute. xxxx Sunday on TV 10 a.m.: Redskins at Bears (Fox). 1 p.m.: Seahawks at Broncos (NBC). 1 p.m.: Cowboys at 49ers (Fox). 5 p.m.: Lions at Packers (ESPN).