Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Three Minnesota Vikings players arrested after fight outside bar

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Three Minnesota Vikings players were arrested after a fight outside a downtown Minneapolis bar early Sunday.

Vikings coach Mike Tice confirmed to The Associated Press the arrests of linebackers E.J. Henderson and Mike Nattiel, and tight end Steve Farmer.

"I have not been able to find out anything concrete yet,'' Tice said.

The three players were arrested along with a fourth man after a fight outside the Tabu nightclub in the Minneapolis Warehouse District.

A man, whose name was not released, was beaten and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, police spokesman Ron Reier said. His condition wasn't known.

Police released the names of those arrested, but would not confirm that the three are Vikings players.

Officers said they saw the men who were arrested assaulting the victim, Reier said. After the man was knocked unconscious, he continued to be kicked, punched and stomped on his body and head, Reier said.

Police had to call in officers from other precincts to disperse the crowd, Reier said.

The Vikings players and the fourth man arrested were in the Hennepin County Jail pending formal charges.

Henderson had 27 tackles in 16 games in 2003, and Nattiel had 24 tackles and one interception. Farmer was signed by the Vikings as a rookie free agent in May 2003.

Tice won't tolerate this type of behaviour. He'll just release them, after kicking their butts.

You think he will really release them? Would that be a bit too harsh. Are they decent players?

That type of thing is not tolerated at all. Eyewitness report from the police? They're probably done.

Yeah more than likely they are. I never realised they was that strict with the teams policies though in the NFL. Over in the UK they seem to get away with it especially in the Soccer.

Tice might keep them around for a while. But if they do stay, they will ride the bench for a while.

But, if they do stay, Tice will be looked down upon. That kind of behavior cannot be condoned. Of course, if they get released, another team is going to pick them up. There have been lots of players that have done stupid things, got released, then picked up by another team.

I say he keeps them, and puts them on the practice squad along with a nice fine for breaking team rules.

Tice is old school, like Parsells only twice his size, he'll do the right thing.

How stupid can you get though. Seriously they deserve to ride the bench.

I think the UK is totally obsessive over soccer so that could be why. We North Americans can just change the channel and watch a different sport

We have the double standard here in the US.
These guys will be dropped like a bad habit, and more than likely thier careers are done, unless Al Davis decides to give them a chance.
But, if they would have been guys that are houshold names, it owuld be a totally different story, they would end up doing some public service time, maybe probation for a little.