Posted on 04/06/2005 5:44:50 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Vikings coach Tice faces fine for scalping
4/6/2005, 8:20 p.m. ET
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
The Associated Press
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice will likely be fined by the NFL for scalping Super Bowl tickets.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Wednesday that Tice broke league rules by reselling the tickets, something he called "clear violations of our policies."
"At some point, I will be imposing discipline," Tagliabue said. "I don't think it will include a suspension." He said "a fine or multiple fines" would probably be appropriate.
Tice was investigated by the NFL for heading up a ticket-scalping operation within the Vikings organization that included assistant coaches and some players.
Tice denied buying tickets from players since he took over as Vikings coach in 2002, but acknowledged last month that he resold some of his personal allotment of 12 Super Bowl tickets last season and had also resold his tickets as a Vikings assistant coach from 1996-2001.
Vikings spokesman Bob Hagan said Tice is out of the country on vacation would not be commenting.
Each NFL player and assistant coach has the right to purchase up to two Super Bowl tickets at face value, which this year was $500 and $600 depending on the seat. But they must sign a document saying they won't resell them at a profit.
Tagliabue said the NFL has investigated other situations involving other teams, but "no other teams were found in violation."
In 1986, Dominic Frontiere, then the husband of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere, pleaded guilty to not reporting income from 2,500 scalped tickets to the 1980 Super Bowl. He was sentenced to a year and a day in jail, was fined $15,000 and received three years probation.
Tice is heading into the final year of a contract that ranks him among the NFL's lowest-paid head coaches.
Go Vikes!
Man, what a mean coach!
At least you have a team.........and a quarterback.
Which he deserves.
Isn't there some way he could get fired over this?!? Or are we still stuck with him...
Go Vikes!
We have a situation here where two teams want to win...and when that happens, only one can win.
I'm glad we have Brad Johnson back as a backup QB too. He's SUCH a great person. The team will be better because of his presence.
Good luck to you - hang in there, it DOES turn around.....someday.
You make the call.
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