According to a source, however, the Vikings did not know of the domestic disputes between 2011 and 2013 involving Guion that were
detailed by the Journal Sentinel in a story last Sunday.
Guion was never charged with domestic violence. Rather, he was charged with battery counts arising from a pair of domestic violence incidents.
In Guion's most serious incident, a police officer in Florida responded to a battery call in February 2013 from Krystal Troutman, the mother of his daughter. According to the police report, Guion pushed Troutman to the ground; when she got back to her feet, Guion struck her in the jaw.
The report stated that Guion also punched Troutman's boyfriend at the time, Martius Holland, in the back of the head, and that he fell face first to the ground. Holland filed a civil suit against Guion last year, seeking damages for injuries.
Guion received deferred prosecution for two counts of misdemeanor battery after paying fines and avoiding trouble with the law for six months.
These incidents and others involving Guion were presented to the team by the Journal Sentinel about a month before publication.
Through a team publicist, general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy declined to comment. Through another team publicist last week, team president Mark Murphy declined to answer questions regarding Guion.
On Monday morning, McCarthy didn't answer directly when asked when he learned of the criminal charges from domestic violence incidents faced by Guion.
McCarthy used the word "garbage" to describe his reaction to the impeccably reported, balanced account.
On Monday afternoon, the Journal Sentinel's Michael Cohen, one of the two writers on the Guion story, was on the sidelines covering practice. Rob Davis, the team's director of player engagement since 2008, continually gestured and stared in Cohen's direction.
When Cohen was looking down at his roster taking player attendance, Davis came over and placed his head about a foot from Cohen's head. Startled, Cohen introduced himself to Davis and extended his hand.
"No, we haven't met," said Davis, refusing to shake Cohen's hand. "And I don't want to know you."
Later, Davis told me he confused Cohen with another reporter. That's a reporter he has known for about 20 years and outweighs Cohen by at least 50 pounds.
"I got nothing to say about that," said Davis. "I wasn't messing with him ... why would I be angry? I've got nothing to be angry about."
Davis, a one-time bouncer for Dennis Rodman, is part of the team's inner circle and a first contact for players, wives and girlfriends on all types of issues. One interpretation is Davis bullied Cohen, and in a league with many anti-bullying initiatives his actions were regrettable, to say the least.
