2014 NFL Offseason Thread

[Bobblehead]

Chris Kluwe decides his NFL career is over so he fees free to speak his mind.

However, it's clear to me that no matter how much I want to prove I can play, I will no longer punt in the NFL, especially now that I've written this account. Whether it's my age, my minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player is done. Punters are always replaceable, at least in the minds of those in charge, and I realize that in advocating noisily for social change I only made it easier for them to justify not having me around. So it goes.

And he isn't really happy with the power structure in Minn.

It's my belief, based on everything that happened over the course of 2012, that I was fired by Mike Priefer, a bigot who didn't agree with the cause I was working for, and two cowards, Leslie Frazier and Rick Spielman, both of whom knew I was a good punter and would remain a good punter for the foreseeable future, as my numbers over my eight-year career had shown, but who lacked the fortitude to disagree with Mike Priefer on a touchy subject matter. (Frazier was fired on Monday, at the conclusion of a 5-10-1 season.) One of the main coaching points I've heard throughout my entire life is, "How you respond to difficult situations defines your character," and I think it's a good saying. I also think it applies to more than just the players.

If there's one thing I hope to achieve from sharing this story, it's to make sure that Mike Priefer never holds a coaching position again in the NFL, and ideally never coaches at any level. (According to the Pioneer Press, he is "the only in-house candidate with a chance" at the head-coaching job.) It's inexcusable that someone would use his status as a teacher and a role model to proselytize on behalf of his own doctrine of intolerance, and I hope he never gets another opportunity to pass his example along to anyone else.

http://deadspin.com/i-was-an-nfl-pla...-an-1493208214

[troutman]

How can you work for a team that wears fabulous purple pants and be homophobic?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Chris Kluwe decides his NFL career is over so he fees free to speak his mind.

And he isn't really happy with the power structure in Minn.


http://deadspin.com/i-was-an-nfl-pla...-an-1493208214

Jesus, are the Vikings trying to compete with the Dolphins for most repulsive organization in the NFL?

[Senator Clay Davis]

For Kluwe's sake he'd better be right about what was said because if he's not telling the truth he's opened himself up to a massive defamation suit. I would also ask if the Vikings cut him for his views, why did the Raiders?

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I would also ask if the Vikings cut him for his views, why did the Raiders?

From the article:

Whether it's my age, my minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player is done.

Raiders are a team in some sort of Cap Hell, no?

[Da_Chief]

On Feb. 11, I received a message saying, "Please fly under radar please," from a phone number I would later learn belonged to Rick Spielman.

When I arrived at the facility, I went through my normal workouts and then went upstairs to talk to Mike Priefer. He hadn't contacted me since our year-end meeting in early January.

Small detail but if you're pointing out the fact he hadn't contacted you just but in the previous paragraph you mentioned him texting you? I don't mind "tell all" stuff but don't make yourself look like saint if you do it. You'd been playing for them for few years and the you say the owner congratulated you on your speaking out yet the team still hated you?

I've lost contact with a lot of people just in life but I can honestly say it wasn't all their fault, probably more my fault. When majority of the people don't like you its usually you're own fault.

Also he calls Frazier and Spielman a coward for cutting him? I really don't think your views and you were that important Kluwe for them to spend a 5th round pick on a punter to make you feel like crap, they saw a better prospect and went with him. As stated by him the other guy, Conley was also cut.

This just sounds like bunch of crying for not getting another job. Sure there are still 30 other teams, that could've called you in for training camp but none did and no one will now after you threw your old coaches under the bus. There are 53 players on each NFL team and punter is the least of anyone's worry, those guys are dime a dozen. Bunch of crap imo.

[ShaolinFlame]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

...Bunch of crap imo.

Just curious, do you feel he fabricated the nuke-island comment from Priefer?

If not, I would hope you agree that that is not something that should be uttered in any workplace.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Small detail but if you're pointing out the fact he hadn't contacted you just but in the previous paragraph you mentioned him texting you? I don't mind "tell all" stuff but don't make yourself look like saint if you do it. You'd been playing for them for few years and the you say the owner congratulated you on your speaking out yet the team still hated you?

I've lost contact with a lot of people just in life but I can honestly say it wasn't all their fault, probably more my fault. When majority of the people don't like you its usually you're own fault.

Also he calls Frazier and Spielman a coward for cutting him? I really don't think your views and you were that important Kluwe for them to spend a 5th round pick on a punter to make you feel like crap, they saw a better prospect and went with him. As stated by him the other guy, Conley was also cut.

This just sounds like bunch of crying for not getting another job. Sure there are still 30 other teams, that could've called you in for training camp but none did and no one will now after you threw your old coaches under the bus. There are 53 players on each NFL team and punter is the least of anyone's worry, those guys are dime a dozen. Bunch of crap imo.

Spielman and Priefer are different people aren't they? Spielman texted him, Priefer never did.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

For Kluwe's sake he'd better be right about what was said because if he's not telling the truth he's opened himself up to a massive defamation suit. I would also ask if the Vikings cut him for his views, why did the Raiders?

King was the stronger punter. Raiders went for the distance King gave them over the skill Kluwe had, not to mention the age thing.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by ShaolinFlame

Just curious, do you feel he fabricated the nuke-island comment from Priefer?

If not, I would hope you agree that that is not something that should be uttered in any workplace.

I would say he wouldn't fabricate something like that but coaches say dumb things all the time, excusable? no! I'm not doubting some idiotic things were said by the coaches but I still don't think he was released because of what he was saying.

If the Vikings were really hell bent on shutting him up they wouldn't just send him a text and say "Please fly under radar please" or say "If that's what you feel you have to do," he praised the owner.

In words of Manning this is just an "idiot kicker" looking for some limelight. There can't be 32 GMs who would boycott him, he's frickin 32, if he was that good as he says then someone would surely pick him up instead he does this.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Raiders are a team in some sort of Cap Hell, no?

Its the Raiders, so yeah no doubt.

Originally Posted by CMPunk

King was the stronger punter. Raiders went for the distance King gave them over the skill Kluwe had, not to mention the age thing.

Which is why the Vikings did it. In fact the Vikings did the same thing a year ago with their kicker, dumping veteran (and more highly paid) Ryan Longwell for Blair Walsh. If Kluwe could bomb it 50 yards net a game, he could support beastiality and he'll have a job. I mean guys who kill and drive drunk still have NFL jobs. NFL is about performance on the field, nothing more.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Also Jay Cutler's financial details have been released. Actually not too bad for the Bears, its essentially a 3 year $54 million deal, after that its pretty much a year to year deal where he can be cut anytime with no cap implications.

[Senator Clay Davis]

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Denver.

Running Backs: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City.

Fullback: Mike Tolbert, Carolina.

Tight End: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans.

Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Josh Gordon, Cleveland.

Tackles: Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Jason Peters, Philadelphia.

Guards: Louis Vasquez, Denver; Evan Mathis, Philadelphia.

Center: Ryan Kalil, Carolina.

Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore.

Kick Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota.

DEFENSE

Ends: J.J. Watt, Houston; Robert Quinn, St. Louis.

Tackles: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit.

Outside Linebackers: Robert Mathis, Indianapolis; Lavonte David, Tampa Bay.

Inside Linebacker: Luke Kuechly, Carolina; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco.

Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Seattle; Patrick Peterson, Arizona.

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Seattle; Eric Berry, Kansas City.

Punter: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis.

[Sylvanfan]

Surprised that John Ryan from the Seahawks didn't get the all pro punter status, Didn't the Seahawks have something like 25 total punt return yards against them all season. If you can reliably send your punter out and move the other team 40 yards back every single time you punt or put them at or inside the 20, I think that makes playing defence much easier.

Interesting to see David get all pro after not making the pro bowl...no doubt the pro bowl these days is heavily slanted in favor of the outside rushers from the 3-4 schemes. The 4-3 outside tackling machine is easy to overlook.

[Flickered Flame]

Texans owner Bob McNair is open to trading the first overall pick:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10...ding-no-1-pick

[Pagal4321]

Oh Chris Kluwe, you attention whore. I see no problem with the part of his allegation that management told him to pipe down at least a little bit but the rest of it really is a comedic read.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Oh Chris Kluwe, you attention whore. I see no problem with the part of his allegation that management told him to pipe down at least a little bit but the rest of it really is a comedic read.

Having a position coach who wants to "nuke the gays" is pretty awful if true.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Having a position coach who wants to "nuke the gays" is pretty awful if true.

Well that should go without saying, however I'm not sure I buy it. If it's true, what wait until now to speak up about it? Because Fraizer was fired? The other "coward" and the "bigot" are still employed.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Well that should go without saying, however I'm not sure I buy it. If it's true, what wait until now to speak up about it? Because Fraizer was fired? The other "coward" and the "bigot" are still employed.

Did you read the article? He answered that specific question.

[Blaster86]

It's shocking how a few people here have laid into Kluwe without actually reading the article. Every single criticism of him so far was answered in the article.