Breaking News: Rudolph Replaced!

NORTH POLE, Arctic Circle (ACNEWS) - In a shocking, unprecedented action, Santa's Work Shop has issued a press release stating that local legend and perennial front runner Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer will not be pulling Santa's Sleigh Christmas Eve 2006! This late breaking news is leaving elves from Tactical Support scrambling to find a qualified replacement.

Although a reason was not given in the statement, sources tell us the reason for his missing the big event has to do with something Rudolph did or said Saturday night after leaving the company Christmas party.

Unconfirmed reports are just starting to filter in telling AC News that Rudolph left the party in a huff after the other reindeer began to exclude him from playing in all the reindeer games. Only this time, according to Comet, it had nothing to do with his nose.

"Well, Rudy always has been a little touchy about his size," Comet revealed. "So when Blitzen started making short jokes while some of the gang were playing pin the tail on the caribou, Rudy all of a sudden started acting different.

"It wasn't until after Rudolph started hitting the eggnog pretty hard, that for safety reasons, the big guy, I mean Mr. Clause, suggested he go outside and walk it off," Comet said. "I really can't say anything more right now," she explained before clamming up.

Witnesses who spoke to AC News on the condition they remain anonymous say after he spouted off a few slurred insults in the direction of the female elves, he slammed the door and it appears that was the last anyone has heard from him.

Is it possible that the most famous reindeer of all has met with some harm? Could he have wandered a little too far and gotten lost? When exactly is deer season at the North Pole? What possible reason could there be that would keep him from leading Santa's sleigh tonight?

It appears that everyone has been instructed to stay silent at this moment. I'll be searching for answers and following up on this story as we get new information. Keep checking for updates throughout the day on Associated Content. I'll post the latest on the Rudolph situation as more details become
available.