GREEN SPEAKS

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Saturday, February 24 Green downplays chances of players' departure

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green said Friday he's confident that defensive lineman John Randle will be back with the team next season.

Randle had asked to be traded and was considered a likely candidate to be a salary-cap casualty.

"Johnny and I talked already," Green said. "And I think I was never convinced that Johnny was not going to play for Minnesota. I think that, like a lot of players, there is a certain frustration when you don't reach your ultimate goal."

Green talked to Minnesota reporters in Indianapolis for the scouting combine.

The Vikings still need to cut about $7 million from their salary cap, and Randle would have to restructure his contract to be retained. Last year, he refused to restructure.

Green also downplayed a report that Vikings veterans Todd Steussie and Robert Griffith could be let go.

Under their current contracts, Steussie and Griffith would count more than $10 million against the $67.4 million salary cap. Steussie is a Pro Bowl offensive tackle. Griffith, a safety, made the Pro Bowl this past season.

"Those guys have been good players for us," Green said. "And you have to make a lot of tough decisions in the game. I mean, that's just the way it is. We've never shied away from that."

>>WITH THIS NEWS LETS LET ALL THE RUMOR GARBAGE SETTLE AND GET ON WITH THE UPCOMING DRAFT! AS FOR THE RICKY WILLIAMS PICK UP, I FOR ONE THINK HE'S OVER THE HILL AND WOULDN'T PRODUCE ANY BETTER THAN WILLIAMS OR CHAPMAN COULD! JERRY BALL DOESN'T IMPRESS ME EITHER, I THINK THE VIKES WOULD BE BETTER OFF LOOKING TO GET RUDD RESIGNED OR ELSE PICK UP THE RECENTLY RELEASED WILLIAMS FROM GREEN BAY. AS FOR WHAT TOP FREE AGENT CORNER BACK I THINK THE VIKES MIGHT DO WELL TO GO AFTER SOMEONE LIKE DENARD WALKER OF TENNESSEE, TODD LYGHT OF ST. LOUIS, TERRELL BUCKLEY OF DENVER, OR WALT HARRIS OF CHICAGO. OTHERS LIKE SEHORN OF THE GIANTS OR BARBER OF THE BUCS ARE OUT OF THE VIKES PRICE RANGE! AT ANY RATE THERE ARE SOME TALENTED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS ALREADY AVAILABLE THAT THE VIKES MIGHT BE FORTUNATE TO PICK UP BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH!>>

-- Chris (krondor105@aol.com), February 26, 2001


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