The Minnesota Vikings and former coach Brad Childress have denied allegations that the team had a bounty system in 2008-09 that was similar to the one allegedly run by the New Orleans Saints.

Former Vikings offensive lineman Artis Hicks made the claims in a new book about Brett Favre by author Jeff Pearlman.

"It was part of the culture," Hicks said, according to an excerpt. "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."

Team team's response: "There is no truth to it."

Childress, who now works as co-offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, said, "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. I'm going to let it stand at that."