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Aug 28, 2006 10:10 pm US/Central
Pre-Season Vikings Try Not To Focus On Scandals
by Mike Max
Eden Prairie, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Koren Robinson. (File)
Nicollet County Sheriff's Office
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Dwight Smith. (File)
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
The Vikings have a few high priorities heading into the pre-season finale: find out who makes the team, find out who excels in the new system and try to stay focused through the latest off-field distractions.
On Monday, they were on the field trying to do just that. While there is talk of Dallas Thursday night, the storm following incidents involving Koren Robinson and Dwight Smith is still lingering.
Dwight Smith is not talking about his incident involving indecent conduct at a Minneapolis nightclub, and the Vikings are trying to keep it on the backburner.
"Dwight's his own man. I know that we're judged collectively by how we conduct ourselves on and off the field," said Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin. "You'd just like to think that we're judged by what we do inside the white lines"
That may be, but people like Vikings center Matt Birk have observed detrimental behavior before, but says Coach Brad Childress's authority is clear.
"Coach Childress has laid out what he expects of us, on and off the field. Just basically be a professional," said Birk, "and keep trying to live up to that every day."
As for Koren Robinson, the Vikings have severed ties with the wide receiver. But some of his teammates are still staying in touch with him, and continue to hope for the best for him, though they don't mention where specifically Robinson is.
"You just pray for him, you continue to talk with him, befriend him, you listen to him and you keep that friendship" said Vikings wide receiver Marcus Robinson. "You never know the things he's struggling with. He's a great guy, on and off the field."
Which turns the focus back toward Childress, who is the man in charge of the field and the one who will make the tough decisions.
"Those decisions aren't mine. I can focus on defensive football and leave that between coach Childress and the individuals that are involved with that," said Tomlin.
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