KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress issued a firm denial of Thursday following publication of new book containing allegations that Minnesota Vikings coaches and players engaged in a bounty system while he served as the team’s head coach.
Co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress (File photo from Chiefs PR, Chiefs.com)
“I had a great opportunity to coach a lot of great people there, including Artis Hicks, at the Minnesota Vikings,” Childress said, “and I have too much respect for the Wilf family, professional football to have anything to do with a bounty system.”
The allegation is included in the new book, Gunslinger: The Remarkable, Improbable, Iconic Life of Brett Favre by Jeff Pearlman.
Hicks, a former Vikings offensive lineman, claims a coach offered a $500 bounty on Green Bay linebacker Nick Barnett before a game in 2008. There are no direct claims Childress was aware of or involved in the alleged bounty scheme.
In the book Hicks claims that “piles of money were regularly collected” and distributed for injuring star players on opposing teams.
It was part of the culture,” Hicks is quoted of saying in the book. “I had coaches start a pot and all the veterans put in an extra $100, $200, and if you hurt someone special, you get the money. ”
The 11-year NFL veteran Hicks played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2002-05 while Andy Reid served as the team’s head coach and played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006-09. Childress served as offensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2003-05 while Hicks played there, and coached the Vikings from 2006-10.
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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