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Vikings cornerback Chris Cook. Photo courtesy of AP |
And now Frazier is being asked to do it again - this time to second-year cornerback Chris Cook. Cook was charged Tuesday with felony domestic violence by strangulation following an altercation with his girlfriend early Saturday. If found guilty, he faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $5,000. He was released from custody Tuesday after posting $40,000 bail and is not allowed to have contact with the victim, nor is he allowed to leave the state of Minnesota.
According to the complaint, Cook was upset his girlfriend contacted her ex-boyfriend. The victim told Eden Prairie police he pushed her on the bed at his townhome, got on top of her, and then grabbed her neck, constricting her to breath.
The victim told police she broke free by grabbing a hold of his dreadlocked hair. Cook then struck her in the ear, sending her crashing into the wall. After the victim fled into the living room, Cook grabbed her neck and squeezed it.
Someone called 911 to report yelling and screaming and police arrived to find the victim with a bloody nose and upper lip. According to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, she had marks on her neck and hemorrhaging in her eye.
As a result, Cook spent the weekend in jail and missed the Vikings home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers beat the Vikings 33-27.
After posting bail, Cook wouldn't address reporters. But he took to Twitter apologizing to the Vikings organization, fans, and his family. Before that, he wrote, "There's always two sides to every story!!"
Keep in mind, this isn't Cook's first brush with the law. Earlier this year, he was found not guilty of brandishing a firearm in the state of Virginia after he allegedly pulled a gun on a neighbor where his family lives. At the time, Cook said he learned from this experience and Frazier even told him to watch is off-field behavior.
As sad as it is for me to say this, it is time for the Vikings to release him from the team. Yes, releasing him now may not seem like a fair shake. But given the seriousness of the charge and the conditions of his bail, it hinders the team's ability to win games on the road.
And fair or not, this shines a negative light on the Vikings organization, which has made strides in ridding itself of the infamous Love Boat scandal on Lake Minnetonka in 2005. You also have to believe that it is negatively affecting pubic opinion on a new Vikings stadium.
Many stadium supporters like myself consider the Vikings a state asset and would love to see them have a presence here. But looking at some comments on Facebook, ESPN, and other media outlets, people don't want to consider the team an asset when it garners negative attention like Cook's arrest and subsequent charge.
That's why I am asking Frazier to sit down with Cook as soon as possible to explain what this organization is trying to accomplish and why he needs to focus on his personal issues instead of being a Viking.
At age 24, I believe Cook has enough talent to eventually become an impact player in the league. And as is any case, there is always "the other side of the story", which may ultimately exonerate him in the courts (but not the NFL).
For now, Cook has to focus on getting through this by allowing the legal process to take its course and be prepared to face the consequences that go along with it. Keeping Cook on the roster only sets the organization back while they continue rebuilding and seek more public support for a new stadium.
UPDATE: According to KARE 11 News, Cook has been suspended from the team. The Vikings released a statement late Tuesday regarding Cook:
"Today's allegations against Chris Cook are very disturbing and disappointing. At this time, he is suspended without pay from the team while we continue to gather information regarding the situation. We will have no further comment until the appropriate time."
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