Minnesota Vikings Boat Party Scandal - Aftermath

Aftermath

On October 19, 2005 Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf, in a reportedly profanity-laced tirade, threatened to remove players from the roster who were involved in the planning of the party, according to Sports Illustrated.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice echoed the calls of Wilf, but wouldn't go as far as endorsing Wilf's view on punishment. He instead said that if any players were found in the police investigation to have acted inappropriately or criminally he would definitely take action.

The Vikings created a 77 page Code of Conduct and distributed it to all the players. They also hired a former FBI agent and NFL investigator as head of security (a position that had been eliminated for several years) to help keep the players out of trouble, and contracted the help of a private security firm.

On December 15, 2005, Culpepper, McKinnie, Smoot and Moe Williams were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct. If convicted, each player faces a maximum of 90 days in jail on each count. All players pleaded not guilty on January 6, 2006.

Charges against Culpepper were dropped in April 2006.

Williams was found guilty on a count of disorderly conduct but was cleared on charges of indecent conduct, and lewd or lascivious behavior; he was fined $300 and ordered to perform 30 hours of community service.

On May 26, 2006, Fred Smoot and Bryant McKinnie pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The two will pay a $1,000 fine and perform 48 hours of community service, they also had 30-day jail sentences stayed for a year. Smoot and McKinnie also pleaded guilty to being a public nuisance on a watercraft, but that will be permanently removed from their records if they remain law abiding for the next year.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said the two players, in addition to their required community service, would participate in numerous service events over the next season. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said fines are likely, declining to say for how much or how long the process will take. He said the players won't be suspended. Because Smoot and McKinnie are being disciplined by the league, the Vikings are precluded by the NFL's labor agreement from imposing their own discipline.

In September 2006, the NFL imposed a one game check fine for both Smoot and McKinnie. Game checks represent 1/17th of a player's base salary, so Smoot's fine was $82,352 and McKinnie's was $41,176. They did not receive a suspension. A day after the fine was levied, McKinnie was given a raise and a seven year extension of his contract worth $48 million. Coach Brad Childress said of their 2002 draft 7th overall pick, "when you have a good tackle like that, particularly a left tackle, you have to try to keep those guys around. They just don't grow on trees, and he's one of the better ones in this league."

Another area sports team took a jab at the incident as well. On May 27, 2006, the St. Paul Saints, an independent minor league baseball team noted for its over-the-top promotions, gave away rubber boats to fans, ostensibly to honor the 30th anniversary of the TV series The Love Boat. However, details of the boats made it obvious that the Saints intended to parody the incident. Each boat was yellow with purple trim (the Vikings team colors); the bridge was designed to evoke the stereotypical Viking helmet; and the boats bore the name Minnetonka Queen, a reference to the lake.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith made fun of the scandal in a game against the Vikings, by pretending to row a boat in the end zone.