An Organization Void of Character

If youve read my weekly column, youll know that I was an advocate of Mike Tices firing all season long. While I agree with the decision of Minnesota Vikings management to fire Mike Tice, I disagree about the way that they went about his release from the club.

While events leading up to Sunday nights decision to fire Mike Tice are foggy, one thing is clear, team ownership showed no character by surprising Tice by firing him right after Sundays win against the Chicago Bears.

Vikings ownership had told Tice that they would make a decision about his future with the club at Mondays early morning meeting. Mike Tice had to know that there was a better then fifty percent chance that ownership would relieve him of his head coaching duties.

What upsets me is that the ownership showed a lack of character by not keeping their word. Mike Tice didnt have an evening to savor his victory and have a positive end to the season.Mike Tice wasnt even given an opportunity to address his players with the news.

Mike Tices players were very loyal to him and the ownership could have had the common decency to allow Tice to have one last moment with the club.

I had many issues with Mike Tice but he gave a number of players a second chance to prove that they could play in the NFL. While many teams had given up on Darren Sharper, Mike Tice gave him a second chance. Darren Sharper will play in the Pro Bowl in February.

Mike Tice also gave Koren Robinson a second chance after the player went through alcohol treatment. Robinson had a good year this year

We should give Mike Tice some credit for giving these players a second chance and being loyal to his team.

Mike Tice handled his firing with class and didnt show any public resentment toward the club. I wish Tice would have acted this way for the past four years.

Vikings ownership didnt keep their word. They said that this organization would be operated with class and character. In my world, keeping ones word is important and leads to character.

How can we trust that Vikings ownership will operate this team any differently then the way that this club has been operated in the past few years?I don't think that the Vikings have the character to be a successful team in the NFL. Firing Mike Tice isn't going to give them the character that they seek.Character comes from within and team ownership seems to lack the character necessary to operate a successful NFL franchise.

I hope that Mike Tice finds an assistant coaching position in the NFL. Hopefully Mike can learn from another head coach what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.Tice wasnt really given a chance, because he was promoted to Vikings Head Coach too quickly when Dennis Green was fired four seasons ago.