EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings extended coach
Dennis Green's contract Wednesday through 2004, adding three more
seasons to his current contract.
ESPN.com's John Clayton reported that Green's extension is worth $9 million over three years, plus incentives. It makes Green the second-highest paid NFL coach behind Seattle's Mike Holmgren.
"I'm very excited," said Green, who joined the Vikings in
1992. "I've enjoyed my nine years working here. (Owner) Red
McCombs and I have a great working relationship. Red has shown
everyone that whole idea of purple pride."
If he makes it to 2004, it would be Green's 13th season.
"I'm young. I'm 51 years old. I don't look at this as my
twilight. I'm a career coach."
McCombs said he is "convinced that Dennis is the best football
man in the NFL. I say this because of his great skills as a coach
and an administrator."
Green has taken the Vikings to the playoffs seven times in his
eight-year tenure, but he's won just three of 10 postseason games.
He was the first black coach in the Big Ten when Northwestern
hired him in 1981, and he was only the second black coach in modern
NFL history when the Vikings hired him. Before coming to the
Vikings, Green was head coach at Stanford (1989-91), and an
assistant with the San Francisco 49ers (1986-88).
Green's job has been at risk before, and was thought this season
to be tied to the success of second-year quarterback Daunte
Culpepper. Green was heavily criticized for drafting Culpepper in
1999 in the face of defensive needs, especially when defensive end
Jevon Kearse, who was taken later in that draft, helped lead
Tennessee to the Super Bowl.
Culpepper has struggled as a passer but has been a surprising
weapon as a runner, and the team is off to a 3-0 start.
"He drafted me, and had faith in me. It feels good to have good
things happen to good people," Culpepper said. "I think the guys
are going to be fired up. Everyone loves Coach Green and wants him
to succeed."
Green also survived a rocky time in 1997 when he angered the
Vikings' 10-man ownership group -- before the team was sold to
McCombs -- with publication of an autobiography that threatened to
sue for controlling interest in the team unless two owners agreed
to sell him their shares.
Star receiver Randy Moss had said recently he'd be more inclined
to re-sign if the team kept Green. Moss repeated that on Wednesday
after learning of the extension.
"If they had gotten rid of Denny, that would mean they want to
turn this whole team around. How much turning can you do?"
He added, "Even though Coach Green doesn't play on Sunday, I
look beyond that. Denny plays a big role in keeping these guys
straight. I think it's important that he be here. The love we have
for Denny is tremendous. I don't think everyone looks at him as a
head coach, but as a friend."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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