NFL

4 Vikings charged in boat party

MINNEAPOLIS - Quarterback Daunte Culpepper and three Vikings teammates were charged Thursday with indecent, lewd and disorderly conduct for participating in a bawdy boat party that drew national attention.

Culpepper, 26 and on injured reserve, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, 26, cornerback Fred Smoot, 26, and running back Moe Williams, 31, each were charged with three misdemeanors for their behavior aboard a boat on Lake Minnetonka, according to court papers.

If convicted, each faces up to 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.

Culpepper, McKinnie and Smoot denied the charges. Williams could not be reached.

"I look forward to meeting my accusers in a court of law so they can be confronted with this lie," Culpepper said. "In the end, the truth will come out and I will be vindicated ... I didn't touch anybody and nobody touched me.

"If I did anything wrong, it was going to that stupid boat."

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 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.

"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."

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf was unavailable for comment. Kevin Warren, an attorney for the team, said the allegations were "very disturbing" and said Wilf wouldn't allow playoff considerations to affect suspensions if he thought they were called for.

"He will do the right and ethical and honorable thing ... if that's two weeks from now or six months from now," Warren said.

Reports that some women at the party were paid to come from outside Minnesota 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. 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.

Michael Bennett said he didn't think the charges would hurt the team heading into Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. "Everybody's upbeat," the running back 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."

VICK OFF INJURED LIST: Michael Vick took all the snaps with the first-team offense. Coach Jim Mora, who listed him as probable with bruised ribs the day before, removed his quarterback from the team's injury report.

UNREST WITH LIONS: A Web site dedicated to team supporters is encouraging ticket-holders to dress in orange in support of Cincinnati, Detroit's next opponent. One radio show will erect a billboard Saturday that reads, "Not this MILLENium. Rebuilding since '57," a reference to team president Matt Millen's disappointing five-year reign. Another radio show is planning an "Angry Fan March" before Sunday's game.

BENGALS: Rookie receiver Chris Henry was arrested, but later practiced with the team. The team said in a statement it wouldn't take any action until his case goes through the court system. Henry, a third-round pick from West Virginia, was stopped by police in nearby Covington, Ky., at about 2 a.m., according to a police report. He was driving a vehicle with expired tags, had an expired license and was speeding, police said. Officers said they also found two small bags of marijuana on Henry, who was charged with possession.

BROWNS: Linebacker Andra Davis, the club's fifth-round draft pick in 2002 out of Florida, signed a five-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed. Dais, 26, has a team-high 169 tackles through 13 games.

SAINTS: Coach Jim Haslett did not rule out the return of quarterback Aaron Brooks next season, but Brooks seemed prepared for a change. "I doubt very seriously I will be a New Orleans Saint again, so I can look forward to moving on," he said.

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:55:10]