EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA - The Minnesota Vikings have introduced Mike Tice as their new head coach. <br>
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Tice had been the team's offensive line coach and replaces Dennis Green, who was forced out last week. <br>
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Owner Red McCombs said this week that Tice had been the leading candidate. <br>
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Tice replaced Green, who was forced out last week with the Vikings heading toward the worst finish in his 10-year tenure. <br>
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Tice led the Vikings in their final game Monday, a 19-3 loss at Baltimore that capped a 5-11 season. <br>
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As acting head coach, Tice met with McCombs that day to talk about operational issues and a restructuring and told four assistants that day that they wouldn't be retained. <br>
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Tice, 42, is popular among many Vikings, and some free agents said his hiring would be a reason to re-sign. <br>
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``He's a guy everyone respects,'' tight end Byron Chamberlain said Tuesday. ``Not just the offensive linemen, but everyone. The way he prepares himself and the preparation he puts in is incredible.'' <br>
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The Vikings were hit hard before the season began by the death of Pro Bowl tackle Korey Stringer after he suffered heatstroke in training camp. The team never recovered, stumbling to its worst record since 1984 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1995. <br>
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Green took a buyout of the two years left on his contract with one game left. But McCombs said the team's poor record wasn't the reason for making the decision, instead alluding to the perception that Green had lost control of his team. <br>
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TV cameras caught several sideline arguments involving players this season and Green was criticized for appearing to tolerate a poor attitude by wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss has been inconsistent this season and said that he plays when he feels like it. <br>
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Green's relationship with star receiver Cris Carter also cooled, partly because of the way Green handled Moss. Carter has strongly hinted that he will not play for Minnesota next season.
