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Two Vikings Face Legal Problems

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From Associated Press

Minnesota Viking defensive end Kenny Mixon was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Tuesday at Minneapolis, the second member of the team arrested in the last few days.

Mixon, 28, spent about four hours in the Hennepin County jail before posting a $12,000 bond.

Kevin Williams, the Vikings’ first-round choice this year and their other starting defensive end, was arrested by Edina police around midnight Thursday for the same reason.

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Mixon was arrested by the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, which patrols several wealthy Minneapolis suburbs. His first court appearance was scheduled for today.

Police said Mixon was driving erratically shortly before 3 a.m., and was found with open containers of suspected alcoholic beverages. He was also driving with a revoked license. Mixon registered 0.19% on a blood-alcohol test, police said.

In his sixth year in the NFL, Mixon has started every game this season and has 47 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks.

“Now it is in the hands of his legal counsel and the National Football League,” Coach Mike Tice said. “I am obviously very disappointed in the actions of two of our players over the last week.”

Last week, police said Williams registered 0.14% on a blood-alcohol test and was given a tab charge of fourth-degree driving while intoxicated. Minnesota’s legal limit is 0.10%.

On a tab charge, a driver normally is given a ticket and a court date and released to a sober adult without going to jail.

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Williams, drafted ninth overall out of Oklahoma State, is second on the team with 5 1/2 sacks.

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The New England Patriots signed former UCLA wide receiver J.J. Stokes as they try to fill in gaps left by injuries.

Stokes played in six games for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season and caught 13 passes for 116 yards before he was released on Nov. 12, when the Jaguars claimed Kevin Johnson from Cleveland.

To make room for Stokes on the roster, New England waived receiver Chas Gessner and re-signed him to the practice squad. He was on the 53-man roster for one week but was not activated for Sunday’s game against Dallas.

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A judge in Sacramento upheld a jury verdict that the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum owes the Oakland Raiders $34 million for falsely promising a packed stadium as it successfully tried to lure the team back from Los Angeles.

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Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor does not have any major damage in his knees, according to doctors. They told him that MRI exams showed no significant injury.

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Taylor sat out most of the fourth quarter of Jacksonville’s 10-3 loss to Tennessee on Sunday after twisting one knee and taking a nasty hit on the other.

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The Denver Broncos put rookie linebacker Terry Pierce on injured reserve because of a chest injury, and waived fullback Kyle Johnson from the practice squad.

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San Francisco President Peter Harris will leave the team when his contract expires in July.

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