Culpepper among four charged in boat scandal Click here to find out more!NFL.com wire reportsMINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2005) -- Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and three other Minnesota Vikings were charged with three misdemeanors each for taking part in a bawdy boat party earlier this season on Lake Minnetonka.Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct, according to court papers.If convicted, each player faces up to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $10,000 fine on each count.Prosecutor Steve Tallen's decision was based on findings by the Hennepin County sheriff's office, whose investigators reviewed allegations of lewd and drunken behavior aboard a floating party Oct. 6 that involved some Vikings players.Crew members complained that some people took off their clothes and engaged in public sex acts during the cruise, according to Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boat owners, Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises in Mound. The crew members identified 17 Vikings among about 90 people on the two boats.The court papers released Dec. 15 said Smoot and defensive end Lance Johnstone arranged the charter.Smoot declined comment in the team's locker room before practice. Both Culpepper and Williams are on injured reserve and in rehabilitation on their own, away from the team. McKinnie wasn't seen in the locker room.Vikings coach Mike Tice was careful with his reaction."According to NFL rules and union contracts, there is a large difference between allegations and charges and convictions," Tice said. "So until at any point there is a conviction of some type, if there is, I have no action to take and nothing to say."After that, Tice threatened to stop talking to reporters if anyone asked more questions about the allegations.Reports that some women at the party were paid to come from outside Minnesota had raised the possibility of federal charges, but U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said that no such charges would be brought. Heffelfinger cited insufficient evidence.That decision, along with sheriff's decision to send the case to Tallen's office, meant any charges would be minor. Tallen is the prosecuting attorney for the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, which handles nonfelony crimes committed on the big lake just west of Minneapolis.The boat scandal hit the Vikings when they were already reeling, off to a 1-3 start, and made them the object of national ridicule on late-night TV and cable sports channels. New owner Zygi Wilf, who had been seeking state help for a new stadium, responded forcefully, apologizing to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and other state officials and instituting a new code of conduct.The team has since recovered on the field and, with quarterback Brad Johnson replacing the injured Culpepper, reeled off six straight wins to become a playoff contender at 8-5.Running back Michael Bennett said he didn't think the charges would hurt the team heading into their Week 15 game against Pittsburgh."Everybody's upbeat," he said. "We have the distraction today, but again we've dealt with it pretty well. http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIN/9098604
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ven0m @ Dec 15 2005, 04:16 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>If convicted, each player faces up to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $10,000 fine on each count.</div> I just heard that on Jim Rome is burning, he said "next time you guys want to get your freak on, you should consider doing it on dry land".They will probably be convicted too, hahah. Sucks for them.
Yeah, but you know they will get out of it with something gay like Probation and a fine.Athletes dont go to Jail.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MINNEAPOLIS -- With quarterback Daunte Culpepper and three other Minnesota Vikings charged with indecent, lewd and disorderly conduct for participating in a bawdy boat party, owner Zygi Wilf might soon need to determine if suspensions are warranted.If discipline is needed, an attorney for the team said Wilf will not hesitate to suspend any players -- even if it affects the Vikings in the playoffs."He will do the right and ethical and honorable thing ... if that's two weeks from now or six months from now," Kevin Warren said Thursday.Culpepper, currently on injured reserve, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams each were charged with three misdemeanors for their behavior aboard a boat on Lake Minnetonka, according to court papers.If convicted, each player faces a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count."The night of the incident, there was no shortage of inappropriate behavior on both boats," Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan said.Prosecutor Steve Tallen charged the players based on an investigation by McGowan's office, which reviewed allegations of lewd and drunken behavior aboard two craft chartered for the outing on Oct. 6.Crew members complained that some people took off their clothes and engaged in public sex acts during the cruise, according to Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boats' owners, Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises in Mound, Minn.Crew members were able to identify 17 Vikings among about 90 people on the two boats; McGowan said authorities ultimately identified about 30 Vikings.Smoot and defensive end Lance Johnstone arranged the charter, according to court papers.Smoot declined comment in the team's locker room before practice. Culpepper and Williams, also on injured reserve, are away from the team and undergoing rehabilitation. McKinnie wasn't seen in the locker room."According to NFL rules and union contracts, there is a large difference between allegations and charges and convictions," coach Mike Tice said. "So until at any point there is a conviction of some type, if there is, I have no action to take and nothing to say."Reports that some women at the party were paid to come from outside Minnesota had raised the possibility of federal charges, but U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said Thursday that no such charges would be brought. Heffelfinger cited insufficient evidence.A Jan. 5 court date was set for the players.The boat scandal hit the Vikings when they were already reeling, off to a 1-3 start, and made them the object of national ridicule on late-night TV and cable sports channels. Wilf, who had been seeking state help for a new stadium, apologized to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and instituted a new code of conduct.The team has since recovered on the field and, with quarterback Brad Johnson replacing the injured Culpepper, ran off six straight wins to become a playoff contender at 8-5.Running back Michael Bennett said he didn't think the charges would hurt the team heading into Sunday's game against Pittsburgh."Everybody's upbeat," he said. "We have the distraction today, but again we've dealt with it pretty well."Asked if he was worried the whole team would be cast in a bad light, receiver Marcus Robinson said:"That's what happens in football. They label all football players the same, all athletes the same. That's just a part of our job right now. You've got to know who you are as an individual and worry about what you can control."</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2260959
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Da Bears 88 @ Dec 16 2005, 12:56 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Vikings in trouble as usual....................</div> Shut up
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RandyMoss18 @ Dec 16 2005, 02:57 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Da Bears 88 @ Dec 16 2005, 12:56 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> Vikings in trouble as usual....................</div>Shut up </div> Let me think about..........thinking,thinking.........NO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RandyMoss18 @ Dec 16 2005, 02:59 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> </div> Amazing.............
Bears fans have little room to talk, at least the Vikings dont fight with members on the same team. They just want to get it on. PS: Watch where you take that or ill havta close the thread.
DB 88, seriously your an immature prick, just because theres a vikings fan doesnt mean you have to bash him...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (His Greatness @ Dec 16 2005, 06:45 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>DB 88, seriously your an immature prick, just because theres a vikings fan doesnt mean you have to bash him...</div>You're an a$$hole.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Da Bears 88 @ Dec 17 2005, 09:35 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>You're an a$$hole.</div>
