Childress: Too soon to discuss Woods' arrest

DETROIT - Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods faces possible discipline from the team after an arrest Friday night on suspicion of drunken driving, but coach Brad Childress said he did not know enough about the incident to make a ruling in time for Sunday's 30-20 victory over the Lions.

Media outlets began reporting the incident Saturday evening, but Childress said he was not informed until Sunday morning. As a result, Woods traveled with the team to Detroit and performed his normal duties from the coaches' box during the game.

Woods, who declined to comment through a team spokesman, was arrested in Minnetonka by the Minnesota State Patrol, said Lt. Mark Peterson. The police report was not available Sunday, and Woods' blood-alcohol content was unknown.

Childress has talked often about creating a "culture of accountability" to combat the Vikings' long history of off-field problems. Responding to offenses ranging from missed meetings to felony charges, Childress has cut one player and reduced the playing time of three others since the season began.

Childress, however, noted that some players have been disciplined in ways less public than playing time -- perhaps through fines.

When asked whether he will apply the same standards to Woods, Childress said: "Yeah, but there's a few issues that you don't know about in terms of players. That will be between Joe and I. [But] I don't know enough about it to talk about what's going on. I was just made aware of that this morning."

Woods, 36, is a close friend of Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin and spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons working with Tomlin in Tampa Bay. Tomlin was the Buccaneers' defensive backs coach, while Woods served as a quality control assistant.

Childress has made clear that players who run afoul of the law or do not abide by team rules will face disciplinary measures. He released receiver Koren Robinson this summer, 11 days after Robinson was arrested for drunken driving and fleeing police. Childress has docked the playing time of safety Dwight Smith (twice), cornerback Fred Smoot and defensive end Ray Edwards.

Staff writer Tom Ford contributed to this report.