McCombs Says Green Will Return as Coach

Minnesota owner Red McCombs says Dennis Green “absolutely” will be the team’s coach in 2002, regardless of how the Vikings fare this season.

McCombs was thrilled with the Vikings’ dominating performance in their 42-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Minnesota is 5-7.

Green has finished .500 or better in each of his previous nine seasons with the Vikings. Publicly, McCombs has remained supportive of Green’s performance throughout the season.

McCombs said Monday he was frustrated by continued public speculation about Green’s coaching future. Green is under contract with the Vikings through 2003 and the team holds an option for the 2004 season.

The Vikings broke through offensively Sunday and won for only the second time in six games. Todd Bouman, debuting in place of injured starter Daunte Culpepper, threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, and rookie Michael Bennett continued his steady improvement with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

“Dennis has done an outstanding job and we’re very fortunate that he’s here,” McCombs said. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“I think the win [against Tennessee] was a strong statement by this group of players,” McCombs said.

“With all of the changes in assignments, and injuries and everything else, including the quarterback situation, every player was playing as a team. What I saw was a team. That’s what everyone is trying to do all the time. That was a great tribute to Dennis and all the coaches, and to all the players. It’s not like Tennessee came in here flat.”

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Players from the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles have formed political action committees to raise money for the Senate campaign of former NFL offensive lineman Ed Cunningham.

They hope the committees generate interest in politics among teammates and lead to other team PACs. They see the PACs as a way for players to make contacts they can tap when their playing days are over.

“As players we want to have a voice,” said end Dorian Boose, an organizer of Washington’s PAC and a client of Cunningham, who is now an agent. “We live here, too. We may be in a position where we make a lot of money, but our world is important to us and we want to be a part of that.”

The players are learning what Hollywood already knows, said Larry Noble, director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group.

“They are waking up to the idea that money buys access,” Noble said. “Fame can get them in the door, but like everyone else, money works better than fame.”

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The Redskins claimed tight end Marco Battaglia off waivers and put him on the active roster. Battaglia spent the last six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.... The Jacksonville Jaguars put Kevin Hardy on injured reserve, essentially bringing to a close the linebacker’s six-year association with the team. Hardy, a free agent after this season, tore cartilage in his right knee at practice Nov. 22 and has not played since.... The banged-up Cleveland Browns took another lump, losing defensive tackle Orpheus Roye for the rest of the season. Roye suffered strained knee ligaments in Cleveland’s loss to New England on Sunday.... The Detroit Lions signed safety Marty Carter. The terms of Carter’s contract were not disclosed. The 11-year veteran was released by the Atlanta Falcons in October.