Cliff wrote:They didn't say it outright but Floyd specifically said they encouraged him and they backed him up after that statement.
I haven't been able to find any articles that make it clear they specifically encouraged him. Reports have said he stated in a sworn affidavit that the Vikings encourage their players to consume the tea and that it is served “on tap” at Winter Park but saying they encourage their players to do that isn't the same as saying they specifically encouraged
him to drink it. I find it impossible to believe the Vikings don't know about the alcohol content of tea they are serving at their facilities or that they would sign a player in Floyd's circumstances and not warn him to refrain from drinking that tea.
They've backed him up by saying they believe his story. From the
PP article:
Warren corroborates Floyd’s claim that he was unaware kombucha tea contained alcohol when he drank several bottles while watching movies late into the early morning of June 11 at the Minnesota house of Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, his former college roommate at Notre Dame.
That's a nice show of support but Warren wasn't present at the time so he's essentially acting as a character witness and saying he believes Floyd.
They corroborated that they have it on hand at the facility.
That's not the same as corroboration that they encouraged or allowed him to drink it and according to the reports I've seen about this, he failed his test after supposedly drinking the tea at Rudolph's house. Is there any indication that he ever actually drank it at their facility?
Honestly even if he is telling the truth and that's all he drank it's dumb of him. Like you said, it's on the label.
Exactly.
Personally, I think the Vikes should drop this guy like a hot potato.