Red McCombs
McCombs Rumors Run Rampant

Just when you thought it was safe to satisfy the rumor-mongers that Red McCombs can't get out of his Metrodome lease and move the Vikings without a severe financial hit from the league and Minnesota, the rumor mill is alive and well. In a 24-hour span, VU has learned the following:


* McCombs has asked the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission to release all of its documentation concerning the $260 million proposed renovation to the Metrodome. The purpose? Part of an information package for McCombs to sell the team to a local buyer or investment group.

* McCombs has spoken with Twins owner Carl Pohlad and University of Minnesota officials about getting a new multi-purpose stadium if all other state-funding-assisted stadium proposals fail.

* McCombs made a recent visit to Los Angeles and viewed land adjacent to the Hollywood Park Race Track and events center as a potential site for a new Vikings stadium if he moves the team to Los Angeles.

With all these rumors, there's one that isn't floating around -- Red will keep the team and keep in Minnesota. Apparently that rumor is too wild to be believed.

FRIDAY NOTES
* If McCombs is looking to sell, the time may be right. A VU source with the Saints said that owner Tom Benson's asking price is $700 million. While he thinks he can get more than the Vikings because of the lease problems each have -- the Saints have five years left on their Superdome lease, while the Vikings have 11 years on the Metrodome lease -- but still believes both teams could change hands for more than half a billion dollars. If McCombs could get $500 million -- a conservative estimate -- he would have doubled the price he paid for the team just three short years ago.

* As reported in VU previously, Michael Bennett pleaded no contest in Dane County (Wis.) court to a charge of unlawful use of a telephone -- ending his criminal court experience stemming from an incident with a female University of Wisconsin student. As part of the agreement, Dane County prosecutors dropped a charge that Bennett kicked in the woman's door -- something he has denied all along. Under the agreement, Bennett agreed to pay a fine of $1,315 and, if he doesn't commit any offenses in the next year, he can ask that misdemeanor charge be dropped to an ordinance violation, which wouldn't appear on his criminal record.