Green Out, Tice In For Monday

Dennis Green announced this morning the he is no longer the Vikings coach, accepting a buyout agreement with the team.

At a short, sweet press conference that has become something of standard in bad times for coach Dennis Green in his decade with the Vikings, Green announced this morning that he will no longer be coaching the Vikings.

VU has learned Green technically wasn't fired. He accepted a buyout offer from owner Red McCombs and his duties ended after morning practice.

Several players showed visible anger over the decision, since, while fans and several members of the local media didn't like Green, his players had a lot of respect for him -- especially those who Green nurtured from drafting them to bringing them along in their NFL careers.

VU has been told assistant head coach Mike Tice will be named interim head coach and be on the sidelines in the head coaching capacity in the season finale at Baltimore.
Green did not field questions at the press conference but talked about keeping both hands on the plow and looking straight ahead to the future, saying if you are looking for Denny Green in the future, whether that is in California or New York, you can find him on the high road.

Owner Red McCombs confirmed that Tice will be the interim head coach, and Green was part of a morning walk-through, where he was thought to have helped the transition. Players stood behind the media throng at Winter Park while Green addressed the media, although very few said a word afterward.

The search for a full-time replacement is on, although McCombs said he doesn't yet have a list. In what is probably an unrelated development, since McCombs said it was news to him, Florida coach Steve Spurrier resigned today as well. A likely spot for him could be taking on the San Diego Chargers job.

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