Vikings Message Board.Com

If this piddly little thing is REALLY a distraction, then our coach has ADHD.

TBH, I've been inspired by Kluwe. I had no idea that no punter had ever been admitted to the HOF. I'd say it's time for the best player ever to play the position to be recognized for his talents. Hell, I'd even be willing to donate a few bucks to a charity to see that Kluwe gets the money back for his "actions".

Ironically, while so many are eager to defend Kluwe's right to express his opinions, Priefer is getting blasted for expressing his...

One is supporting the greatest player at his position getting into the hall of fame. The other is taking a shot at his player.

Raptorman wrote:Now don't go using the idea of equality between player and coaches.

I know, that's crazy talk...

Personally, I don't care if anyone expresses their opinions, as long as it is not distraction to the team and the games they play.

I don't care either. I have no problem with Kluwe expressing his views or with what Priefer said.

Demi wrote: One is supporting the greatest player at his position getting into the hall of fame. The other is taking a shot at his player.

I disagree he is taking a "shot." He said he didn't even want to talk about it and then expresses his feelings that "Those distractions are getting old for me to be quite honest with you. Do I think Ray Guy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely. But there's other ways of going about doing it in my opinion." He's not entitled to say that? What should he say? "I agree with my players violating the league rules or any other rule they don't personally agree with?"

Secondly, as good of a Kicker as Guy was, can you honestly say he should be in the hall before Cris Carter? (I'm using the litmus test that f r e q u e n t l y if not every game I was ever at, Carter had me on my feet cheering from an unbelievable catch he made.)

Guy was a good Kicker, but he was actually not as good statistically as Kluwe is. (yards per punt Kluwe is better, but Guy does have 77 yarder for an all-time-long punt vs Kluwe's 70 yarder). Sorry for being a little cynical, but him supporting a player (that happens to play his position with worse stats than he) seems to be self serving. Sorry. To me, Kluwe seems to seek the attention. Give him another month and it will be another topic. Fine. He's entitled to express his opinion(s) and I will tune him out as "white noise" after a while.

Lastly, Kluwe offers his opinion or displays a post-it note (unsolicited) about a topic. The special teams coordinator gets asked a question which he is required to answer, and suddenly he's the "bad guy?" I just don't get that...

Just Me wrote:Lastly, Kluwe offers his opinion or displays a post-it note (unsolicited) about a topic. The special teams coordinator gets asked a question which he is required to answer, and suddenly he's the "bad guy?" I just don't get that...

Well, he's not required to answer anything.

There's really not a bad guy in this non-story.

dead_poet wrote: Well, he's not required to answer anything.

There's really not a bad guy in this non-story.

Fair enough. He has to be there to address the question. He can certainly stand mute, I suppose... (The "bad guy" reference was made because of the previous post that the coach "took a shot" at one of his players)

He can also just simply say, "Next question."

dead_poet wrote:He can also just simply say, "Next question."

Yes - I acknowledged that. And reporters will always take that at "face value" and not initiate any further questions pertaining to the topic because we all know reporters always move on after "next question" and "no comment" answers.

IMHO - I think the coach gave the best answer: He addressed there were other ways (other than breaking league rules - no matter how ridiculous they may be) to get Kluwe's views out. He then gives the answer that really doesn't pique any further interest in the topic. In context, his comments could have been construed as "taking a shot" at the reporters as he simply stated these "distractions are getting old." He may very well have meant having to deal with questions from reporters that are only (very) loosely related to the team and have no bearing on how the team is performing.

Just Me wrote: I disagree he is taking a "shot." He said he didn't even want to talk about it and then expresses his feelings that "Those distractions are getting old for me to be quite honest with you. Do I think Ray Guy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely. But there's other ways of going about doing it in my opinion." He's not entitled to say that? What should he say? "I agree with my players violating the league rules or any other rule they don't personally agree with?"

Secondly, as good of a Kicker as Guy was, can you honestly say he should be in the hall before Cris Carter? (I'm using the litmus test that f r e q u e n t l y if not every game I was ever at, Carter had me on my feet cheering from an unbelievable catch he made.)

Guy was a good Kicker, but he was actually not as good statistically as Kluwe is. (yards per punt Kluwe is better, but Guy does have 77 yarder for an all-time-long punt vs Kluwe's 70 yarder). Sorry for being a little cynical, but him supporting a player (that happens to play his position with worse stats than he) seems to be self serving. Sorry. To me, Kluwe seems to seek the attention. Give him another month and it will be another topic. Fine. He's entitled to express his opinion(s) and I will tune him out as "white noise" after a while.

Lastly, Kluwe offers his opinion or displays a post-it note (unsolicited) about a topic. The special teams coordinator gets asked a question which he is required to answer, and suddenly he's the "bad guy?" I just don't get that...

bingo!!

Do you know why Ray Guy is not in the Hall of Fame? Because nobody gives a damn. Do you know why nobody gives a damn? Because he was a punter.

Eli wrote:Do you know why Ray Guy is not in the Hall of Fame? Because nobody gives a damn. Do you know why nobody gives a damn? Because he was a punter.

LOL! I was trying to find that clip where Parcels is talking to a team doctor who tells Parcells the kicker can't play because he is sick. Parcels something to the effect of: "H--- Doc, I don' need him to play football, I just want him to kick!"

hahahahah!

The hall of fame is cool;however, it is subject to the voters will.

Punters and Kickers are not treated as players ... it that fair probably not ... will it change very unlikely ..

That being said Marshall deserves a place in the Hall for sure

Just Me wrote:

We can't compare the stats of a guy who punted in the 70s to a guy who punts today. With the passage of time, the best athletes will run faster, throw farther, punt farther, etc. (Remember when the 4 minute mile was all the rage?) The point is that Guy was THE MAN in his day, and Kluwe is hardly the best punter at present.

As for the issue of whether the coach "has a right" to express his opinion about Kluwe's outspokenness, sure he has a right. But we fans have a right to express ours in support of Kluwe's outspokenness. The "numbskulls" comment that I made wasn't so much based on this coach's statement as it was a reference to certain other decisions this franchise is making. Personally, given that we're not truly contending for the Title, I care about the fact that we have a punter who has such a nimble mind and who is willing to speak it. I mean, as long as we play Ponder at QB, I'd be willing to have a Oscar Wilde for a punter -- presuming, of course, the he wouldn't fumble the snap. He would need to at least get off a punt. I do have my standards for that position. Even Ponder deserves a punter with a positive net average.