Locker room fight leads to Vikings team meeting

Last update: October 11, 2007 - 10:28 PM

An altercation in the Vikings locker room following Wednesday's practice led to coach Brad Childress calling a team meeting in the aftermath.

The brief fight involved defensive end Erasmus James and running back Chester Taylor, according to people with knowledge of the situation. It's unclear what precipitated the scuffle, but according to accounts, James threw a punch that landed around Taylor's right eye. Taylor retaliated by attempting to throw a chair, but it accidentally hit left tackle Bryant McKinnie. Taylor and McKinnie, who have lockers close to each other, are good friends, and that apparently brought an end to the incident.

Taylor made a brief appearance in the Winter Park locker room during the media access period Thursday and had a shiner underneath the eye. James, meanwhile, was added to the Vikings injury report Thursday because of a shoulder problem that limited him in practice.

It was not known if James hurt his shoulder in the fight or during Wednesday's practice.

A Vikings spokesman said Thursday night the team would have no comment.

James has been inactive for all four games this season because the coaching staff did not feel he was ready to return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered early last year in a game against Carolina. But Childress said Monday that James now is simply competing with the other defensive linemen for a spot on the 45-man gameday roster.

The altercation happened as the Vikings (1-3) look to end a three-game losing streak on Sunday, facing the Bears in Chicago. Minnesota had a bye last week.

JUDD ZULGAD