Ross denies meeting Vikings officials

December 11, 1991

Georgia Tech coach Bobby Ross denied a report yesterday that he met with Minnesota Vikings officials last weekend in Florida to discuss their coming coaching vacancy.

The report by The Atlanta Constitution quoted anonymous Vikings and NFL officials. The Vikings -- whose current coach, Jerry Burns, is retiring at the end of the season -- played in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday night.

"I have not met with, spoken with or done anything relating to the Minnesota Vikings," Ross said. "That was flat-out not true. Where it came from, I don't know."

In January Ross also denied reports that he had interviewed for the Cleveland Browns coaching job until after he had turned down an offer. Then, Ross boarded a plane in New Orleans after an awards ceremony, flew to owner Art Modell's home in Ohio, and returned to Atlanta the next morning.

And Brister remains convinced he may have to play elsewhere next year.

The meeting resulted from Brister's angry refusal to play in the final six minutes of the Steelers' 31-6 loss Sunday in Houston. Brister, who hasn't played since Oct. 14, said it would have been "humiliating" to mop up for O'Donnell.