Evans avoids serving jail time by reaching a plea agreement

Vikings defensive tackle Fred Evans reached a plea agreement Thursday morning in Miami-Dade (Fla.) County court, avoiding jail time in connection with a June 23 incident in Miami Beach.

Evans pleaded no contest to resisting arrest and battery on a police officer, while a third charge of trespassing was dropped. He must pay a $1,310 fine and was given two years of withheld adjudication. In essence, he will not be further punished in the matter unless he violates the terms of his probation during the next two years.

Evans was arrested after police found him in the back of a taxi early on the morning of June 23. Officers stunned him twice with a Taser gun before they could get him out. One officer reported being bitten in the incident.

The legal issues surrounding Evans are not over, however. He has been summoned to Colorado County (Texas) Court for a Sept. 5 trial on misdemeanor marijuana possession. He originally agreed to a plea deal of one year's probation, but the arrest in Miami violated the terms of the Texas agreement.

If Evans does not report Sept. 5, the county will issue a warrant for his arrest within the state of Texas. The Vikings play Oct. 21 at Dallas.

In addition, Evans likely faces some sort of punishment under the NFL's personal conduct policy. He almost certainly will be fined and could face a one- or two-game suspension.

Etc.

• The Vikings' preseason opener against St. Louis last week scored a high rating for KSTP-Channel 5. According to figures released Thursday, the game had a 14.6 rating and a 33 share. That means 246,365 households tuned in to the game.

• Former Vikings coach Dennis Green has joined the Westwood One radio broadcast team. Green will serve as an analyst for Thursday night games, which begin on Thanksgiving night.

Staff writer Judd Zulgad contributed to this report.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com