Old Vikings Owner wants to know what New owner has been smoking

The old owner Red McCombs dont blame him for this mess
:smoker2:
McCombs to Wilf: If Vikings are a mess, it occurred after the sale


Last update: October 20, 2005 at 9:17 PM



Former Vikings owner Red McCombs lashed out Thursday at suggestions he sold a subpar organization to Zygi Wilf, saying on a national radio show that "I don't know what Mr. Wilf has been smoking."

McCombs did not return a call this week from the Star Tribune. But during an interview on Sporting News radio, McCombs said he is not to blame for the Vikings' 1-4 start.

"I know that the organization I turned over to [Wilf] is one of the better organizations in the country," McCombs said. "I've been an owner in sports for 50 years. I do know a little bit about it."

Wilf said last weekend that the Vikings were "inadequately structured and staffed" when he took over, an idea Wilf said also was the opinion of NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Wilf called the situation a "mess" during an interview Wednesday with the Star Tribune's Sid Hartman, and McCombs responded specifically to that charge Thursday.

"I turned over to him a roster of players that the handicappers were saying had anywhere from the fourth- to the sixth-best odds of going to the Super Bowl," McCombs said. "Now, what has happened since, I don't know.

"But we have a great staff in Minnesota. There's no question about it. . . . Where [Wilf] is coming from, I don't know. . . . The fact is that if the Vikings were 4-1 instead of 1-4, there wouldn't be a lot of screaming and kicking and pointing fingers. And they should be 4-1, by the way."

McCombs said Wilf, who did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, praised the condition of the organization during a June meeting.

"It's a bit disingenuous," McCombs said, "to tell somebody in the middle of June that one of the reasons they purchased the club was the organization and the roster and everything that had been put in place. Then, when they get to be 1-4 and have a few bumps in the road, they say the former owner was at fault.

"I don't want to get into a kicking match with Mr. Wilf. I never have kicked him, and I would appreciate it if he didn't kick me. My reputation speaks for itself and I'd put it up against anybody."



KEVIN SEIFERT

Cheap shot....what a prick.

Red knows he got away with murder!!! Well almost.....

Remember McCombs kept Moss so his franchise appeared more valuable...ironically they dealt him shortly there after.

mccombs is the prick, he got in at a rock bottom price through the "good old boys" network when more appropriate local ownership was available. basically gutted the team, selling off its assets. they sold out most of the games, but he still constantly threatened to move the team unless a new stadium was built. it looked like he actually planned to move the team, but the commissioner wouldn't allow it, using an old written promise that the vikings would honor their lease if the metrodome was built. he refused to pay for a decent coaching staff and the team was always between 10-25 million under the salary cap. he probably cleared at least 500 million for the seven years that he owned the team.

Journeyman said:

Remember McCombs kept Moss so his franchise appeared more valuable...ironically they dealt him shortly there after.

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Maybe you want to buy your next car from RED

He broght in and paid for Tice. What more can one ask for from Mr McCombs?

If McCombs has any loyalty at all, he would but the Saints, move them to San Antonio, then hire his good friend Mike Tice. :finger:


Really hate to see Tice leave the NFL North after this year. At least theres still Mike Sherman (with an extension) and Mooch to kick around.

I won't let Mike Tice coach my kids pee wee football league

hasn't mike sherman won the north division abunch of times as the coach of the packers?

i could be wrong.



but i am not.

We know the Vikings wont be opening the door on this case this season

gopherbob said:

mccombs is the prick, he got in at a rock bottom price through the "good old boys" network when more appropriate local ownership was available. basically gutted the team, selling off its assets. they sold out most of the games, but he still constantly threatened to move the team unless a new stadium was built. it looked like he actually planned to move the team, but the commissioner wouldn't allow it, using an old written promise that the vikings would honor their lease if the metrodome was built. he refused to pay for a decent coaching staff and the team was always between 10-25 million under the salary cap. he probably cleared at least 500 million for the seven years that he owned the team.

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I did some consulting in downtown Minneapolis around 2000. I asked the people if they ever saw Red walking around down there since he owned one of the buildings near where I was working. They said Red wasn't too popular based upon the type of things you mention here.