Report Says Vikings Plan to Fire Green

Minnesota Viking Coach Dennis Green may be fired by team owner Red McCombs next week, ESPN reported, citing unidentified sources.

The Vikings (5-10) will miss the playoffs this season for only the second time under Green, who has been Minnesota’s coach since 1992.

Minnesota had never had a losing record during his tenure.

He is expected to meet with McCombs on Tuesday, the day after the Vikings play their regular-season finale at Baltimore. McCombs will fire Green unless he changes his mind before then, the report said.

McCombs had considered stripping Green of the power and title of vice president of football operations, but has decided to let Green go, ESPN said.

Green has three years left on a contract that pays him about $3 million annually, and the two sides discussed a settlement but then stopped talks, the network said.

Team spokesman Bob Hagan had no comment on the report.

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Tony Siragusa, a veteran defensive tackle who starred on last year’s Super Bowl championship Baltimore Raven team, announced his retirement on his weekly radio show.

He said he will pursue a career in broadcasting after this season.

“I came into this league as a free agent, on my terms, and I’m gonna leave on my terms,” the 34-year-old Siragusa said.

The effervescent Siragusa, known as “the Goose” during his seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the last five with Baltimore, has played in 14 games with 12 starts this year.

He has been plagued by chronic knee and lower-leg injuries as the Ravens (9-6) have struggled to reach the playoffs.

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Top overall draft pick Michael Vick will start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

It will be the 21-year-old Vick’s second NFL start, the other being a 20-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 11.

Vick had a rocky first half in that game, then alternated snaps with second-year backup Doug Johnson.

Coach Dan Reeves thought Vick showed progress when he replaced the injured Chris Chandler during last week’s 21-14 road loss to the Miami Dolphins.

“I just want him to play and have control over what we’re doing,” Reeves said. “Just get better.”