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The Minnesota Vikings and former coach Brad Childress denied allegations from former Vikings offensive lineman Artis Hicks that the team had a bounty system in 2008-09 that was similar to the one allegedly run by the New Orleans Saints.The NFL had no comment on whether it would investigate Hicks claims, which were revealed in a new book about Brett Favre by author Jeff Pearlman.It was part of the culture, Hicks said, according to an excerpt published by Deadspin. I had coaches start a pot and all the veterans put in an extra $100, $200, and if you hurt someone special, you get the money.The Vikings response: There is no truth to it.Childress, who now works as co-offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, said Thursday, I had a great opportunity to coach a lot of great people there, including Artis Hicks, at the Minnesota Vikings. I have too much respect for the Wilf family [and] professional football to have anything to do with a bounty system. Im going to let it stand at that.Some current and former Vikings also denied any knowledge of any type of bounty or payment-incentive system.I havent heard of any bounty program since Ive been here [since 2007], defensive end Brian Robison said Thursday. Im very unaware of a bounty program. Im not going to sit here and talk about it all day. It is what it is. If Artis wants to say stuff like that, obviously, hes trying to bring attention on him. So what? At the end of the day, like I said, Im unaware of any bounty program thats happened here in the time that Ive been here.I was very surprised. I actually saw it [Wednesday] and I was like -- basically the first thing I said, in the car with my wife, was, What the hell? It was very shocking to me. But you know, its not surprising. We were on a roll, and of course, all this comes out when you get a loss. Whatever. It is what it is.Former linebacker Ben Leber and former punter Chris Kluwe also denied the claims on Twitter and chatted back and forth:The Vikings, of course, were the most prominent victims of the Saints alleged bounty program, with claims that a specific bounty was placed on Favre in the 2010 NFC Championship Game by Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.And Childress was the one who reportedly informed the NFL that he had heard about the bounty on Favre from a player.The league initially found no evidence of wrongdoing against the Saints when it first investigated in 2010. However, the league reopened its investigation in 2012 based on further claims from former Saints coaching assistant Mike Cerullo.The NFL then found that the Saints ran an injury-incentive program for three years under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, including rewards for players being carted off or knocked out of games through legal hits. The league doled out the most severe punishments in its history, including year-long suspensions for head coach Sean Payton and Williams, and the loss of two second-round draft picks.The league attempted to suspend four players, including Vilma for a full year. All of the player suspensions were ultimately overturned after numerous appeals, with former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue serving as the arbitrator and finding that he saw no justification for such unprecedented punishments.Tagliabue wrote in his decision that he believed Vilma offered some sort of bounty on Favre in a team meeting but that it wasnt clear if it was a serious pledge or amount to trash talk that occurs regularly before and during games.Since that time, there have been other reports of players claiming that they were involved in similar injury-incentive programs, most prominently from several former members of the Washington Redskins when they played under Williams.However, the NFL said it found no evidence of wrongdoing following investigations into both the Redskins and the Buffalo Bills, where Williams previously coached.A separate claim in Pearlmans book was also refuted Wednesday when Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers strongly denied that he referred to Favre as Grandpa the first time he met him in 2005.ESPNs Ben Goessling and Adam Teicher contributed to this report. 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Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- As Matt Kenseth left the garage at Phoenix International Raceway, his crew chief hung his arm over the driver in an attempt to lift their spirits.Kenseth had been two laps away from victory and a spot in next weeks championship race.Instead, he had a wrecked race car and a pink slip from NASCARs playoffs.I felt so bad for him. He drove his heart out all day long and its just one of those things that happens, said team owner Joe Gibbs.It was a split-second decision that cost Kenseth his season, but opened the door for teammate Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, his most despised rival a year ago.A late caution forced Kenseth, only two trips around Phoenix away from the win, to withstand a two-lap overtime shootout to collect his checkered flag. He was in the lead and on the outside of Alex Bowman when Busch bumped into Bowman.Bowman bobbled but was still on the bottom line as he and Kenseth entered the corner. Kenseth dropped low because spotter Chris Osborne told him he was clear, but he and Bowman instead collided.Just like that, Kenseth was done.Its a team effort. Win as a team, lose as a team. I cant blame Chris, Kenseth said. I didnt see what happened. He said I was clear, so I started looking toward the corner and got turned around. So many things happen in a hurry. All I know is I was looking at the corner, trying to think about getting off turn 2 to try to go win the race.The sequence allowed both Logano and Busch to advance into next Sundays season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But Busch was initially focused only on redeeming himself with Kenseth because he believed his contact with Bowman on the restart triggered the Kenseth crash.Joe Gibbs Racing had four drivers in the round of eight and was vying to sweep the championship field. Carl Edwards went to Phoenix already locked into the finale, but three Gibbs drivers were vying for the remaining two slots. They dismissed all notion of cutthroat competition, and the four drivers spent Saturday morning hiking a nearby mountain together.So Busch felt awful about Kenseths turbulent turn.Riight now it feels pretty (expletive), but tomorrow it might feel a lot better, Busch said.dddddddddddd Im not sure, depends on what Matts interpretation is and whether or not he can forgive. I just feel really bad about what happened there on that last restart. The 20 (Kenseth) should have been the Gibbs car to go through.Osborne, though, accepted blame for the accident after falsely indicating it was safe to move to the bottom lane. He posted on Twitter an apology for his role in the Kenseths Chase ending. He said this error was on me!!Curiously, theres a second defining moment of Kenseths season that also was linked to a spotter.On the last lap of the Daytona 500, Kenseth threw a block that backfired and helped teammate Denny Hamlin win the race. At the time, Osborne was recovering from a car accident, and there was speculation that the replacement spotter contributed to Kenseths incorrect decision to block.Kenseth, meanwhile, failed to advance to the finale in all three of its years since the creation of the elimination format.Logano is going back for the second time in three years and got there by winning an elimination race for the second time of these playoffs. Hell be trying to give Roger Penske a season sweep during its 50th anniversary season. Simon Pagenaud won the IndyCar title in September.Ive never felt this good about a win before, Logano said. There was so much on the line and everyone brings their A-game when it comes to winning championships and this team did it.Busch finished second and earned a chance to defend last years title. Hell meet Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, who is seeking a record-tying seventh championship, in Homestead.Eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday were Kevin Harvick, an eight-time winner at Phoenix who had raced in the last two finales, as well as his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch. Gibbs drivers Kenseth and Denny Hamlin were also knocked out of the field. ' ' '