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Vikings to Punt Chris Kluwe ?

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Boom_70, May 6, 2013.

  1. Big Circus

    Big Circus Well-Known Member

    #BringBackTheMet
     
  2. Armchair_QB

    Armchair_QB Well-Known Member

    #youllhavetoteardowntheIKEA
     
  3. Bob Cook

    Bob Cook Active Member

    The Colts went so far as to offer their punter the franchise tag. Pat McAfee is going to make $3 million in 2013.

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/02/pat-mcafee-signs-franchise-tender/

    Regarding distractions, Pat McAfee shoves himself in front of every mic and camera he can, and he's become a local Twitterlebrity. Fortunately for him, he works for Jim Irsay, who has no trouble with him doing that, and probably his local celebrity (as well as a weak crop of returning free agents) helped him get the tag. Of course, it helps that McAfee is more Solo-cup-in-the-air dudebro and tends to stay out of politics, though recently he got skewered for daring to mention on Twitter that he couldn't figure out the post-Jason Collins complaint that somehow the media was telling Tim Tebow to shut up... about anything.
     
  4. As The Crow Flies

    As The Crow Flies Active Member

    It doesn't seem to be a stretch to say that a good game from a punter could add 30-50 yards in a game in field position. It's not sexy, but that has value.
     
  5. Boom_70

    Boom_70 Well-Known Member

    Kluwe is usually a top pick in fantasy leagues.
     
  6. Bob Cook

    Bob Cook Active Member

    Kluwe's gone:

    http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000167052/article/chris-kluwe-expected-to-be-cut-by-minnesota-vikings

    Awesome goodbye tweet: "So long, Minnesota, and thanks for all the fish!"

    The mortal sin Kluwe committed might not have been merely about his activism. It was having the temerity to suggest, where coaches who never leave their offices can see it, that there is more to life than football.

    "I think the sacrifice would be worth it," Kluwe told Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. "Now, I would hope that I would get the chance to play football again, because I think I can still play. But if it ends up being something that costs me that position, I think making people aware of an issue that is causing children to commit suicide is more important than kicking a leather ball."

    Kluwe particularly has been vocal in his support for same sex-marriage rights. He is coming out with a book this summer and believes it's silly that he's been admonished publicly, sometimes by Vikings coaches, for having other interests.

    "When I'm at the facility, I'm concentrating 100 percent on my job because that's what I'm being paid to do," Kluwe said. "But when I'm away from the facility, I'm no longer at my job. I get to live my life. This idea that you have to spend 24 hours a day thinking about your job frankly is unhealthy. It's insane."
     
  7. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    It says a lot when a team like the Patriots can lose a kicker like Vinatieri and replace him with a guy in the draft and barely skip a beat.

    I look at a team like the 2011 Niners, when Alex Smith was the QB the whole season, when a greak kicker and a great punter can help carry a team where the offense isn't bad, but isn't a scoring machine. They'd get pinned in their own territory, Lee would blast a punt inside the 20, a superior defense would hold them, they'd punt and then Akers would kick a field goal.

    I don't have a problem with a team getting rid of a top specialist as long as they replace them through the draft or free agency. It's the teams that get rid of a top guy and then think they can get a replacement off the street.
     
  8. printit

    printit Member

    I'm glad you posted this. I think of this game whenever someone questions the impact a punter can have. I have never seen a game so changed by a punter. He was the MVP of that game.
     
  9. Boom_70

    Boom_70 Well-Known Member

    What he doesn't say is that he was trading his celebrity as a Viking to gain attention for cause.

    Can't say I blame The Vikings and applaud them for not worrying about political correctness.

    Eric Winston is another player that took to twitter and and now looking for work.
     
  10. old_tony

    old_tony Well-Known Member

    Absolutely. There are about 7-10 punters worth more than minimum. Not many others ever really change the game (except maybe for the worse).
     
  11. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    I don't think Kluwe's career is done, but I think being as outspoken on certain topics may not help his football career, but it will help him immensely for his post-football career. I fully expect you will see Kluwe and Ayanbadejo get analyst or broadcast jobs that are usually reserved for players who are much better known.
     
  12. old_tony

    old_tony Well-Known Member

    The good ones are worth more. Sometimes a lot more. Ron Wolf made so many great moves in Green Bay but he acknowledges that his worst move was letting Craig Hentrich walk as a free agent. Hentrich went on to have another 11 or so top-notch years with the Titans. He also increased his value by being the kickoff man and a top-notch holder.
     
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