New year, same off-the-field troubles for Vikings

By Krupka  |   Wednesday, January 03, 2007  |  Comments( 3 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Vikings head coach Brad Childress was brought into Minnesota last offseason to instill discipline and accountability to a franchise that began spinning in disarray with off-the-field issues in recent years. While discipline on the field certainly wasn't reached -- Minnesota was penalized the most of any team in the NFL this past season -- off the field was a different story.

After a relatively quiet season off the field, the Vikings handed the distinction of the NFL's "Bad Boys" to the Cincinnati Bengals, thanks in large part to receiver Chris Henry.

Enter 2007.

And the Vikings are attempting to recapture their spot on the front of the sports page. It didn't take long. Not even a day. Approximately two and a half hours into the New Year, Minnesota had already one-upped Henry and the Bengals.

Vikings wide receiver Travis Taylor was arrested early Monday morning on allegations of fifth-degree assault, disorderly conduct and interfering with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, all of which are misdemeanors.

According to police spokesman Lt. Amelia Huffman, Taylor refused to get out of the way as police tried to remove people from the streets to let an ambulance get through. The Vikings' receiver also reportedly pushed the officer. The officer needed to use a taser to subdue him.

The seven-year veteran was the Vikings' leading receiver this past season with 57 catches and 651 yards, a testament to how poor the offense was. Not to say Taylor isn't a talented player, but when your leading receiver has fewer than 60 receptions and 700 yards, you know it wasn't a good season offensively.

With the code of conduct and emphasis on behavior on and off the field, one can only think that Taylor's tenure with Minnesota is in jeopardy. He will be a free agent this spring, and if found guilty of the charges, his days in purple will probably be over.

Eric Krupka is a senior writer for RealFootball365.com. He can be contacted at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Tim Withers		07:12 PM
01/03/2007
The Taylor story is overblown. He mouthed off at the wrong time and they fell on him hard. If your a winner on a good team, you...
No.2
dim gim		06:45 PM
01/04/2007
I really wish these type of stories would stop being written. I think reporters love to glorify scandal...even when there is...
No.3
Gary Malmberg		07:59 PM
01/09/2007
Of course this is a story. Normal people don't fight with cops. Childress has his problems and needs to work on them over the...
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