Talk » back and current ESPN personality Ryan Clark,

The Minnesota Vikings and former coach Brad Childress denied allegations from former Vikings offensive lineman Artis Hicks that the team had a bounty system in 2008-09 that was similar to the one allegedly run by the New Orleans Saints.The NFL had no comment on whether it would investigate Hicks claims, which were revealed in a new book about Brett Favre by author Jeff Pearlman.It was part of the culture, Hicks said, according to an excerpt published by Deadspin. I had coaches start a pot and all the veterans put in an extra $100, $200, and if you hurt someone special, you get the money.The Vikings response: There is no truth to it.Childress, who now works as co-offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, said Thursday, I had a great opportunity to coach a lot of great people there, including Artis Hicks, at the Minnesota Vikings. I have too much respect for the Wilf family [and] professional football to have anything to do with a bounty system. Im going to let it stand at that.Some current and former Vikings also denied any knowledge of any type of bounty or payment-incentive system.I havent heard of any bounty program since Ive been here [since 2007], defensive end Brian Robison said Thursday. Im very unaware of a bounty program. Im not going to sit here and talk about it all day. It is what it is. If Artis wants to say stuff like that, obviously, hes trying to bring attention on him. So what? At the end of the day, like I said, Im unaware of any bounty program thats happened here in the time that Ive been here.I was very surprised. I actually saw it [Wednesday] and I was like -- basically the first thing I said, in the car with my wife, was, What the hell? It was very shocking to me. But you know, its not surprising. We were on a roll, and of course, all this comes out when you get a loss. Whatever. It is what it is.Former linebacker Ben Leber and former punter Chris Kluwe also denied the claims on Twitter and chatted back and forth:The Vikings, of course, were the most prominent victims of the Saints alleged bounty program, with claims that a specific bounty was placed on Favre in the 2010 NFC Championship Game by Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.And Childress was the one who reportedly informed the NFL that he had heard about the bounty on Favre from a player.The league initially found no evidence of wrongdoing against the Saints when it first investigated in 2010. However, the league reopened its investigation in 2012 based on further claims from former Saints coaching assistant Mike Cerullo.The NFL then found that the Saints ran an injury-incentive program for three years under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, including rewards for players being carted off or knocked out of games through legal hits. The league doled out the most severe punishments in its history, including year-long suspensions for head coach Sean Payton and Williams, and the loss of two second-round draft picks.The league attempted to suspend four players, including Vilma for a full year. All of the player suspensions were ultimately overturned after numerous appeals, with former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue serving as the arbitrator and finding that he saw no justification for such unprecedented punishments.Tagliabue wrote in his decision that he believed Vilma offered some sort of bounty on Favre in a team meeting but that it wasnt clear if it was a serious pledge or amount to trash talk that occurs regularly before and during games.Since that time, there have been other reports of players claiming that they were involved in similar injury-incentive programs, most prominently from several former members of the Washington Redskins when they played under Williams.However, the NFL said it found no evidence of wrongdoing following investigations into both the Redskins and the Buffalo Bills, where Williams previously coached.A separate claim in Pearlmans book was also refuted Wednesday when Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers strongly denied that he referred to Favre as Grandpa the first time he met him in 2005.ESPNs Ben Goessling and Adam Teicher contributed to this report. What is a good website to buy sports jerseys . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. What is the best place to buy Cheap Jerseys . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. https://www.wheretobuycheapjerseys.com/ . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. How to Buy Cheap Jerseys .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. What is the best site to buy team jerseys from China .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he expects running back Tevin Coleman to play Sunday against the?Broncos?despite Colemans concerns about how having the sickle cell trait could affect him in the altitude in Denver.Coleman told ESPN he was unsure about playing because his blood disorder, related to sickle cell disease, can cause complications in environments with low oxygen, such as the high altitude in Denver. Coleman said he would consult with Quinn about the best way to proceed.Quinn addressed the topic Monday and did not express doubt about Colemans playing status.Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and current ESPN personality Ryan Clark, who has the sickle cell trait, not the more serious sickle cell anemia, had an episode after playing in Denver in 2007, when he became gravely ill and ultimately lost his spleen and gallbladder. Clark was then kept from playing in two subsequent games in Denver, including a playoff game.Last year, Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins was cleared to play in Denver with the sickle cell trait and played 39 of 65 defensive snaps in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Broncos.Theres been a number of guys who have sickle cell trait whove played in Denver over the last nine years and certainly before then, Quinn said.dddddddddddd So we fully intend on Tev playing and playing well.Quinn downplayed the possibility that Colemans reps would need to be monitored. However, a medical source with previous experience with an NFL team told ESPN that teams should strongly consider cutting down reps when a player has the sickle cell trait, depending on how that players body adjusts to the altitude. The biggest factor is staying hydrated, something Coleman planned to do all along.I guess coach will see how I feel when we get there, Coleman told ESPN. And I just have to communicate with him, if I am out there [playing], if Im dead [tired] or cant breathe. We just have to play it smart.In August, Coleman was pulled from the end of a practice as a result of his condition and the extreme heat.Coleman has been a major factor in the Falcons 3-1 start while sharing carries with starter Devonta Freeman. Through four games, Coleman has 129 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 40 carries. He also has 13 receptions for 181 yards. ' ' '