Former Minnesota Viking Joe Senser, who appeared to vent his frustrations Friday morning at photographers in the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center, now says it was just a ruse to distract them from taking pictures of his daughter as she arrived for his wife's trial.

KARE-TV reported that Senser apologized in an e-mail to the station Friday afternoon. "I purposely went to the other side of the atrium hoping they would follow me, they did," Senser wrote, according to KARE. "I wanted to get my daughter through the security line without someone taking photos and video.
"I know that they have a job to do, it was not personal. I take each threat against my family serious."

Senser, who was texting, stood up and walked toward the photojournalists on Friday. "Is there any more of this you want?" he asked sarcastically, according to KARE. "Why don't you guys get a life."

The station reported that he then walked down the line of cameras, asking one TV journalist: "Should I smile for ya? Hi, good morning," he said before walking away.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921