Vikings: Alcohol policy change is defended as right move

Vikings fullback Tony Richardson is one of six NFL veterans who serves on the player advisory council that helped to approve a policy this week banning franchises from serving alcohol at team functions or on buses and flights. Teams were informed of the ban on Thursday by the league and told it also includes owners, coaches and guests.

Richardson said the rule had been discussed before St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died last month in an alcohol-related automobile accident but made it clear that tragedy had an impact on the league's thinking.

"Obviously, in light of the situation in St. Louis, we never want to have a situation like that where alcohol has been served to a player who is leaving after a game or after a flight," Richardson said. "Especially after [a player is] dehydrated after a long game. There's no place for it."

The advisory council was established by Commissioner Roger Goodell two months ago and includes Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius; Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday; Philadelphia linebacker Takeo Spikes; Washington receiver James Thrash; and free-agent safety Troy Vincent. Vincent also is president of the NFL Players Association, which was on board with the alcohol ban.

Richardson, who serves as the Vikings' player rep, applauded Goodell's offseason attempts to get tough on off-the-field misconduct. "I'm all for it," Richardson said. "We're held to a higher standard and we realize that. In doing so we need to conduct ourselves in a certain way and we need to continue to protect the shield of the NFL. I think that in light of all these policies and everything that's kind of coming forth that's all we're trying to do. We're not trying to punish players, we're not trying to take things away but just say, 'This is a game of integrity.'  "

The alcohol ban, which already was in effect for the locker room, won't have much of an impact on the Vikings. The team has not made alcohol available to its players on airplane flights in recent seasons. "As long as [Goodell] doesn't outlaw pizza in the locker room, we'll be OK after the game," coach Brad Childress joked.

Etc.

• Safeties Tank Williams and Mike Doss, both coming off season-ending knee injuries, each took part in one practice Friday. Williams sat out in the morning and Doss in the afternoon. Vikings linebacker Jason Glenn, also returning from a knee injury, rested in the afternoon.

• Defensive end Darrion Scott signed his one-year, $850,000 tender offer as a restricted free agent on Thursday. Scott said he was disappointed to receive the lowest of the four tenders.

• The Vikings will report to training camp in Mankato on July 25 and hold their first practice two days later. Camp will break Aug. 16.

• Second-year cornerback Cedric Griffin, who is facing a charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, has had a July 19 trial date set. Griffin was arrested on April 20 following an altercation with staff members at a nightclub in downtown Minneapolis.

• Defensive tackle Alex Guerrero suffered a knee injury while playing for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa and has been placed on injured reserve. Childress has been told Guerrero will be ready for Vikings training camp.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com