Childress denies claim '08 Vikings ran bounty system

Ex-head coach of the Minnesota Vikings Brad Childress has denied a claim from a former player that the team placed a bounty on opposing players during the 2008-09 season.

In a recently released book on legendary quarterback Brett Favre, former offensive lineman Artis Hicks said coaches and players collected money that was ultimately distributed to anyone who injured a player on the other team.

"It was part of the culture. 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," Hicks said, in an excerpt of Jeff Pearlman's book, published by Deadspin on Tuesday.

Childress coached the Vikings from 2006-10. He denied Hicks' story.

"I have too much respect for the Wilf family (and) professional football to have anything to do with a bounty system. I'm going to let it stand at that," Childress said Thursday, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.

Some of Hicks' former teammates have also distanced themselves of such comments.

"I haven't heard of any bounty program since I've been here," said defensive end Brian Robison, a Viking since 2007. "I'm very unaware of a bounty program. I'm 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, he's trying to bring attention on him."

Bounties received national attention after claims were made that the New Orleans Saints ran a pay program in 2009-10. Those allegations were investigated by the league and resulted in the suspension of head coach Sean Payton for a full season and the forfeiture of two draft picks.