Vikings: Evans ends appeal with league, will serve two-game suspension

By Kevin Seifert and Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

Last update: November 27, 2007 - 10:14 PM

His appeal concluded, Vikings defensive tackle Fred Evans will start a two-game suspension this week for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Evans, arrested twice during the offseason, will miss Sunday's game against Detroit and the Dec. 9 game at San Francisco. He also will lose two game checks and forfeit a total of $42,352.94.

The Vikings have expected some sort of penalty since signing Evans on Aug. 12. The NFL originally issued a four-game suspension but reduced it to two upon appeal.

Evans, a seventh-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2006, was arrested in February for misdemeanor marijuana possession in Colorado County, Texas. He eventually paid a $2,000 fine and was sentenced to three days in jail.

On June 23, Miami Beach (Fla.) police arrested him after a scuffle. He paid $1,310 in fines and received two years of deferred adjudication.

The Dolphins released him before training camp. In eight games for the Vikings, Evans has made five tackles, playing primarily as the backup to nose tackle Pat Williams.

The Vikings do not have an obvious replacement for Evans at the position but have a promising rookie, Conrad Bolston, on the practice squad.

Slow ticket sales

The Vikings are once again fighting to avoid a local television blackout this week. As of Tuesday evening, they had 3,000 tickets left to sell for Sunday's game and already had spoken to the NFL about extending the deadline to Friday afternoon.

The Vikings have needed corporate aid to sell out three of their home games this season. In each case, the local television affiliate purchased a block of tickets to avoid losing the advertising revenue that goes with Vikings broadcasts.

This time, however, Fox-owned KMSP (Ch. 9) has not given any indication of whether it will be in a position to help. A Fox spokesman said no decisions have been made, but Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said Tuesday "it doesn't look like" help is on the way.

As a result, the Vikings are trying to sell the remaining tickets to local corporate sponsors. For the Nov. 18 game against Oakland, Miller Brewing Co. purchased 1,000 tickets.

The NFL typically requires teams to be sold out 72 hours before kickoff, which would be Thursday at noon.

Etc.

• Safety Dwight Smith was named NFC defensive player of the week after intercepting two passes last Sunday in the Vikings' 41-17 victory over the New York Giants. Smith returned the second interception 93 yards for a touchdown.

• The Vikings worked out cornerbacks Marquice Cole (Northwestern) and E.J. Underwood (Pikeville College) on Tuesday at Winter Park.