Vikings: Griffin resolves legal problem

Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin, who was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after an April "saggy pants" incident at Spin, a nightclub in downtown Minneapolis, had his case resolved Thursday at the Hennepin County Government Center.

Griffin's lawyer, David Valentini, said his client did not enter a plea and that under terms of the agreement, there will be a continuance for dismissal in one year, meaning that if Griffin has no same or similar violations during the next year, the case will be automatically dismissed without any need for future appearances. Griffin also had to pay the prosecution costs of $1,000 and agree to stay out of Spin for one year.

Griffin had been set to go to trial Thursday but Valentini worked out the terms of the agreement Wednesday. Griffin, who did not have to appear in court, was arrested April 15. Witnesses said he was thrown out of the nightclub for failing to pull up his pants. Minneapolis police spokeswoman Lt. Amelia Huffman said at the time that officers were summoned to Spin because security members were "physically fighting" with Griffin inside.

The officers saw Griffin being carried "bodily down the stairs" toward an exit. Spin staff members got Griffin outside and told him not to return. "Griffin was quite angry," Huffman said. "[He] was yelling at the officers, refusing to leave." Griffin was maced but still remained on the sidewalk yelling at the police, according to Huffman. He eventually was arrested.

Valentini, though, described a much different scene Thursday.

"He went down to this club with two bankers and the [police] report indicated his pants were really low," Valentini said. "That is contrary to what the evidence would have been in the case. He was escorted into the VIP section by a manager and he did not consume one sip of one drink.

"He wasn't in the club for even five minutes. The manager bought everybody at the table a drink, Cedric went to use the restroom and somebody asked him to pull his pants up. He didn't know it was an employee of the club. The next thing he knew he was escorted out.

"Outside the music was loud. He was yelling to people inside the club that he wanted his shoes because when he was being pulled out one of his shoes had fallen off."

It remains unclear if the NFL will discipline Griffin under the league's personal conduct policy. "We're hopeful the commissioner [Roger Goodell] will take no action based on this resolution," Valentini said.

Griffin, entering his second NFL season, was drafted in the second round by the Vikings in 2006. He replaced Fred Smoot in the starting lineup during his rookie season and will enter training camp next week starting opposite veteran Antoine Winfield.

JUDD ZULGAD

Vick to face tough judge

When Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick appears in federal court next week, he'll go before a judge unimpressed by Vick's celebrity and in a court known nationwide for its speedy handling of cases.

Legal experts describe U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson as a tough but fair jurist who, in five years on the federal bench, has become known for handing down stiff sentences, for being prepared and for allowing both sides to show their cards.

Vick's appearance July 26, along with three other defendants, will be to enter pleas to charges of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

Etc.

• Free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two days after being released by Miami.

The Associated Press contributed to this notebook.