** Official 2013 Draft Thread **

[Purple Domination]

I guess Locke has a boot on kick offs too. Wonder how that will play out with Walsh.

[King James]

I must be missing something. What did Chris Kluwe do to make the Vikings want to replace him???

[Eli]

Yeah considering his salary and his antics, I think he's gone. I expected the Vikings to grab a punter, not in the 5th, but yeah the writing was on the wall.

No question, Preifer was fed up with him. And he's at the age where you can start looking for a replacement without feeling guilty about it. But I also expected them to do it in the 6th or 7th round, not the 5th.

[Purple Domination]

Wonder if that free's up any cap space to maybe get a MLB in FA still.

Looks like Kluwe's cap impact would be $1.45MM this year. Definitely provides some room.

[Skoltastic_Voyage]

I must be missing something. What did Chris Kluwe do to make the Vikings want to replace him???

Really?

He is often outspoken, getting involved in delicate issues (gay marriage rights). His support of Ray Guy was right on in my eyes though.

He shanked and short kicked a crap load of punts...

To his credit kluwe has to be one of the best holders I have ever seen, Walsh will not do as good as last year because of it I'm afraid.

[saint33]

I expected them to take a Punter, but in the 5th round?

at least it wasn't in the 3rd round like Jacksonville last year


I like his kicking routine. Set up, one step forward, punt the ball, grab your shoulder and act like you just got shot. Aaron Rodgers' championship belt is lame in comparison to that celebration

[FailedtoOpen]

Running his mouth too much

I'd rather have someone like Kluwe run his mouth when there is actually something of worth to what he says, in comparison to like Ochocinco in his prime who basically spouted garbage.

[S197]

He compares to Anger, which is a good thing. This still cracks me up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48qo6bJGgOc

[saint33]

Running his mouth was an issue, but I don't think it was the deciding factor in this move. He hasn't been an above average punter in years.

[Angels Wings]

Punters are people too!

I for one am going to miss Kluwe...

Rich Eisen was in love with the pick...

[dead_poet]

Yeah, he's gone UCLA kid has a big leg. Might do kickoffs too. 77% touchback last season.

[DanAS]

I love what Kluwe has to say about the issues of the day. I love that he is an athlete whose mind is as sound as his body.

But as a punter, he just hasn't been very good. Honestly, I am biased, because of my political views, and I really, really want to like Klwe as a punter, but he was nothing special between the lines. Some of his punts weren't even mediocre.

Am I surprised to see us take a punter in the 5th round? Sure. But if Kluwe is correct that Ray Guy belongs in the Hall -- and I think he is -- and if this kid is truly the best punter in the country, then I guess it's not crazy to take him where he was taken. He'll likely help our team right away.

I wish Kluwe the very best in his non-football endeavors, but I honestly think that as an NFL player, he's a marginal one at best.

[Rus]

Really?

He is often outspoken, getting involved in delicate issues (gay marriage rights). His support of Ray Guy was right on in my eyes though.

He shanked and short kicked a crap load of punts...

To his credit kluwe has to be one of the best holders I have ever seen, Walsh will not do as good as last year because of it I'm afraid.

Uh, no. Don't even bring up the political stuff. If that was mostly the case, then the Vikings administration is just plain stupid. If the players who agreed with Kluwe silently feel like the guy was pushed out because of his political beliefs, then you better believe it won't reflect positively with them next time the team enters negotiations with them.

They drafted a punter because their new darling special teams coordinator wants a kid who will listen to him and it worked once before. Kluwe, despite having an off year, is still one of the top 5 or 6 punters in the league if you take all of his punting stats into account. He shanked a couple of punts and every fan that disagreed with his political beliefs began screeching for his neck because they saw a "legitimate" reason to stick it to him. Even the best punters shank a punt from time to time.

That's pretty much the end all/be all of the matter.

I think it was a wasted pick. They should have selected a guard to help out along the line. But Priefer wants a kid who will reply to everything he says with a resounding and sincere "yes sir!" because he's a rookie and fearful for his job.

[saint33]

but I honestly think that as an NFL player, he's a marginal one at best.

this

[hibbingviking]

Vikings had problems with field position.