Kluwe rips Frazier, Spielman, Priefer

[King James]

I'm actually embarrassed that this team and its fans keep using the word "distraction". Chris Kluwe was a "distraction"? Oh yeah? They get paid millions of dollars to PLAY A FREAKING GAME! Distraction. Yeah. Okay. Sounds like a lame excuse to me. Vikings player or coach: "I'm sorry Mr. Wilf. I know you pay me millions of dollars to do my job, but Kluwe's opinions are just too darn distracting for me. I can't focus on work. It's becoming harder by the day to focus on my job and my work performance is suffering." Yeah, IF I ever get in trouble at work, I'm going to say "My co-worker distracted me with her opinions". I'll get back to y'all and let you know how far it got me. No, but seriously, the distraction excuse is super lame, especially in this case. A family tragedy or something could be distracting or emotionally draining, but something like this? Really? Are these big, macho men really that weak and so easily "distracted"? This is all that it takes to throw them off? People need to man up and let go of the "distraction" excuse in professional sports. These people get paid millions of dollars for a reason. It actually makes me laugh at how people want to coddle these guys as if they are fragile little beings.

Haha you think football players don't get distracted? When key players get arrested that isn't a distraction to the team when they're sole focus is to prepare for the upcoming game? What about "millions of dollars?" The wealth, fame, women, cars, houses, and parties don't distract a lot of them? If Adrian Peters kept bad mouthing off about how bad the staff is for firing Frazier, won't that cause a distraction? Distractions dont come from the players themselves but the media. The media takes every word out of a Vikings player or coaches mouth and try to twist it into many stories as they can. Then when NFL executives call the Vikings and ask whats going on, isn't that a distraction from what they are supposed to be doing, which is game planning for the next opponent?


Isn't this current situation also a distraction? We are looking for a HC, and trying to prepare for the upcoming draft. But now, the front office has to fight off the media all day who is probably accusing them of being discriminators. Which is a distraction...lol

That's why this pathetic #### team can't win a damn super bowl. We always stay in some damn mess.

[Funkytown]

Haha you think football players don't get distracted? When key players get arrested that isn't a distraction to the team when they're sole focus is to prepare for the upcoming game? What about "millions of dollars?" The wealth, fame, women, cars, houses, and parties don't distract a lot of them? If Adrian Peters kept bad mouthing off about how bad the staff is for firing Frazier, won't that cause a distraction? Distractions dont come from the players themselves but the media. The media takes every word out of a Vikings player or coaches mouth and try to twist it into many stories as they can. Then when NFL executives call the Vikings and ask whats going on, isn't that a distraction from what they are supposed to be doing, which is game planning for the next opponent?


Isn't this current situation also a distraction? We are looking for a HC, and trying to prepare for the upcoming draft. But now, the front office has to fight off the media all day who is probably accusing them of being discriminators. Which is a distraction...lol

That's why this pathetic #### team can't win a damn super bowl. We always stay in some damn mess.

Life is a distraction. That's the point. But we don't use "distractions" as excuses the same way people do for professional athletes. Get it? It's a lame excuse. That's all it is. Again, these people are grown men who are paid millions of dollars to do a job--distractions or not. I have no doubt people are faced with distractions; I just don't think they should be used as excuses.

[Just Me]

Damn that bigot MLK for not tolerating racists!

Please don't compare Kluwe to King. King was a man who brought about meaningful change without the need for diminishing others. Kluwe is the exact opposite.

[maembe]

Thus you can't fire someone for "any" reason. You can fire them for almost any reason, with exception to sexuality, race, religion, etc. Which is exactly what I said.

And although I've stated already that I don't think Kluwe was fired for his beliefs or activism, it doesn't negate the issue of discrimination in the work place. If Kluwe or another player in the organization were actually gay, having evidence of Priefer discriminating against gays in the work place gives that player a case to argue that he was fired for such reason. And thus if the allegations are true, not only is Priefer breaking pretty standard ethical conduct code of any professional organization, he is also potentially giving validation for a potential lawsuit, unlikely as that is.

Not completely correct. Sexuality is not included. In most states you can fire someone just for being gay. Minnesota very recently did pass legislation to prevent this though.

[maembe]

I'm actually embarrassed that this team and its fans keep using the word "distraction". Chris Kluwe was a "distraction"? Oh yeah? They get paid millions of dollars to PLAY A FREAKING GAME! Distraction. Yeah. Okay. Sounds like a lame excuse to me. Vikings player or coach: "I'm sorry Mr. Wilf. I know you pay me millions of dollars to do my job, but Kluwe's opinions are just too darn distracting for me. I can't focus on work. It's becoming harder by the day to focus on my job and my work performance is suffering." Yeah, IF I ever get in trouble at work, I'm going to say "My co-worker distracted me with her opinions". I'll get back to y'all and let you know how far it got me. No, but seriously, the distraction excuse is super lame, especially in this case. A family tragedy or something could be distracting or emotionally draining, but something like this? Really? Are these big, macho men really that weak and so easily "distracted"? This is all that it takes to throw them off? People need to man up and let go of the "distraction" excuse in professional sports. These people get paid millions of dollars for a reason. It actually makes me laugh at how people want to coddle these guys as if they are fragile little beings.

No kidding. I can't imagine the logic of calling Kluwe a distraction. What do you people think happens?

The QBs are in a meeting. MBT checks his phone.
MBT: "OMG guys! Kluwe tweeted something. Check your phones."
Christian Ponder: "LOL, he's so silly. This film-watching business is boring, let's watch videos of cats instead!"
Joe Webb: "Okay, I'll have plenty of time to prepare for the Packers tomorrow."


The idea that Kluwe is a distraction is completely idiotic. He attracts attention but it's positive attention. The NFL and the Vikings especially should strive to have more players like that. He worked hard and did a lot to help bring about positive social change here in Minnesota. Even if he was a bad as Jeff Locke I'd still want him here because of that alone.

[Dirtyswabby]

First post here. Has priefer done something in the past that leads everyone to automatically believe kluwe? I haven't heard a single bad thing about the man, its ok though he is guilty cause kluwe said so even though multiple players have come out in defense of priefer, and yet some of you believe kluwe who has zero evidence to back his claim and not one person backing up his story. he has already stated that he intends for priefer to never hold another job, that statement alone seethes with bitterness.

[NextQuestion]

J.Kapp11 - Kluwe had every right to call out Emmitt Burns. What burns did was absolutely disgusting.

Guys, does it make me a bigot if I don't tolerate nazis, homophobes, bullies, racists, soviets, KGB, KKK members, etc?

[maembe]

J.Kapp11 - Kluwe had every right to call out Emmitt Burns. What burns did was absolutely disgusting.

Guys, does it make me a bigot if I don't tolerate nazis, homophobes, bullies, racists, soviets, KGB, KKK members, etc?

The Webster dictionary defines a bigot as "a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc. : a bigoted person; especially : a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group (such as a racial or religious group)"

It's not unfair to dislike the people you've mentioned because they are bad people.

[King James]

Homophobes are not bad people. You can't force anyone to "like" homosexuals. Some cultures, religion believe it's wrong. As long as you don't harm them then it's not bad in my opinion. If this is the United States of America, the land of the free, we should freely have the right to not wanna deal with people who are homosexual. Homosexuality is not normal and not everyone feels comfortable around them. Before anyone calls me a homophobe, I have no hatred against people. I just don't think people who are not fond on gays are bad people. After all the human reproductive system was made for man and woman sexual intercourse, not man on man, or woman on woman.

Which is not the case with Kluwe. He's just a washed up kicker who fails to realize he was going to get cut anyway regardless of what his views are. It's just his hot mouth that got him cut sooner.

[maembe]

Homophobes are not bad people. You can't force anyone to "like" homosexuals. Some cultures, religion believe it's wrong. As long as you don't harm them then it's not bad in my opinion. If this is the United States of America, the land of the free, we should freely have the right to not wanna deal with people who are homosexual. Homosexuality is not normal and not everyone feels comfortable around them. Before anyone calls me a homophobe, I have no hatred against people. I just don't think people who are not fond on gays are bad people. After all the human reproductive system was made for man and woman sexual intercourse, not man on man, or woman on woman.

Which is not the case with Kluwe. He's just a washed up kicker who fails to realize he was going to get cut anyway regardless of what his views are. It's just his hot mouth that got him cut sooner.

I'm not going to get into the ridiculousness of your views because that would stray pretty far from the discussion here, but everyone has a right to believe whatever they want, even if it's completely stupid. However, not all opinions are created equal. If you are a bigot who hates gays or Jews or Women etc., it's best to keep it to yourself especially in a workplace. Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences.

[King James]

I'm not going to get into the ridiculousness of your views because that would stray pretty far from the discussion here, but everyone has a right to believe whatever they want, even if it's completely stupid. However, not all opinions are created equal. If you hate gays or Jews or Women etc., it's best to keep it to yourself especially in a workplace. Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences.

Exactly. Plus homosexuality will always be a controversial topic. I don't think talking about it, whether it's positive or negative, is professional in the work place. This is something that should be took to the appreciate activist group, not deadspin!

[maembe]

Exactly. Plus homosexuality will always be a controversial topic. I don't think talking about it, whether it's positive or negative, is professional in the work place. This is something that should be took to the appreciate activist group, not deadspin!

Not exactly. Much like interracial marriage, it won't be a controversial topic for all that much longer. There is a very clear right and wrong on the issue, it's not like he's arguing about higher or lower taxes. Supporting equality as Kluwe did is not something that is unprofessional or reflects poorly on the team. In fact, it reflects positively on the team, and made Kluwe incredibly well-liked by people who don't even follow the NFL closely. The Vikings could use more people like Kluwe and less like Erin Henderson.

Deadspin and social media is a perfect place to take this. Kluwe has been great at drawing attention to discrimination here in MN and throughout the country, and the internet has been his primary channel. His goal was to make sure Priefer doesn't hold a job in the NFL again, and this is a perfect way to do that.

[King James]

I disagree. Kluwe is exactly what this team needs less of. No one on the team cares about his opinion. No one outside of the team cared about his opinions until he lied on the team making this franchise seem like an homophobic organization. Some players have already defended these allegation against the staff.

Kluwe just want some attention now that his football career is over.

[MrPurplenGold]

Damn that bigot MLK for not tolerating racists!

The problem with this statement would be that MLK never showed hatred towards racists. He was a peaceful man of religion who disagreed with discrimination of any person of any color. His principles involved forgiveness and love towards one another. So while I understand your coy way of trying to take this situation and manipulate it towards a particular situation that I think most would relate to, the facts simply don't support your statement. Malcolm X would have been a better example for what you were trying to do.

[majorm]

Sounds like sour grapes.

Kluwe was cut for 2 reasons:

1. His play was diminishing.

2. He was a distraction. It doesn't matter what his cause was, he was in the news for stuff other than football and the team felt that drama wasn't worth it from a Punter, especially one on the decline.


Hey Chris, is it the Vikings fault no other team signed you after you were cut?

Yep.