Farewell Kluwe

[A.D_blazing]

I say let's draft or get a punter every year..

[Purple bruise]

Those aren't very impressive stats, to be honest. Led the team in punting? Did the Vikings carry more than one punter during those 10 seasons?

Career attempts is hardly impressive. That's like saying a guy is a super running back because he got a lot of carries. What did he do with the carries?

Kluwe has 198 career punts inside the 20-yard line, eclipsing Coleman's 154. And he did it in only 8 seasons (compared to Coleman's 10).

Furthermore, Coleman's punting average was 40.6 yards. Kluwe's is 45.

Not sure what you're seeing that makes Coleman the superior punter. Of course, this is a little like debating which is the tallest midget.

Those stats are not that impressive until you consider the fact that Coleman spent his career not only kicking in the freezing cold at the Met but also in Detroit before their dome was constructed. I would like to see what any "modern day" punters would do kicking under those conditions. Leading the Vikings in punting for 10 years speaks more to the fact that he kept his job as their kicker for a decade. His career attempts might not be that impressive because he played on much better teams that did not punt as often and was not playing in an era with sixteen game regular seasons. Add to that what a gifted athelete he was and the number of times he ran for 1st downs. I said I would argue the fact that he was the best Viking punter ever and I will stick with that.

[Funkytown]

Those stats are not that impressive until you consider the fact that Coleman spent his career not only kicking in the freezing cold at the Met but also in Detroit before their dome was constructed. I would like to see what any "modern day" punters would do kicking under those conditions.

Good point. Although the stats are initially fairly unimpressive, you do have a point with the weather conditions. As a matter of fact, Kluwe mentioned this the other day. He's already a little nervous about kicking at TCF. He probably won't have to worry about it now, though. But, as good as Kluwe is, he even acknowledged the difficulty of kicking in the possible ridiculous weather that Minnesota is known for producing.

[Mothman]

Those stats are not that impressive until you consider the fact that Coleman spent his career not only kicking in the freezing cold at the Met but also in Detroit before their dome was constructed. I would like to see what any "modern day" punters would do kicking under those conditions. Leading the Vikings in punting for 10 years speaks more to the fact that he kept his job as their kicker for a decade. His career attempts might not be that impressive because he played on much better teams that did not punt as often and was not playing in an era with sixteen game regular seasons. Add to that what a gifted athelete he was and the number of times he ran for 1st downs. I said I would argue the fact that he was the best Viking punter ever and I will stick with that.

I liked Coleman a lot and definitely think he could stake a claim as the Vikes best punter but he didn't spend his career kicking outside in Minnesota. He was with the Vikings from 1978 to 1987 and the team moved into the dome in '82 so he kicked in Metropolitan Stadium for 4 years. He never kicked in Detroit before the Silverdome was constructed.

[Purple bruise]

Good point. Although the stats are initially fairly unimpressive, you do have a point with the weather conditions. As a matter of fact, Kluwe mentioned this the other day. He's already a little nervous about kicking at TCF. He probably won't have to worry about it now, though. But, as good as Kluwe is, he even acknowledged the difficulty of kicking in the possible ridiculous weather that Minnesota is known for producing.

Thank you

[dead_poet]

Those stats are not that impressive until you consider the fact that Coleman spent his career not only kicking in the freezing cold at the Met but also in Detroit before their dome was constructed. I would like to see what any "modern day" punters would do kicking under those conditions.

That's a valid point, but we really have no idea what Kluwe could've done. The best we can do is probably average all of his late-season cold-weather punts and compare them with the number of late-season outdoor cold-weather punts done by Coleman. I would be a bit shocked if the numbers were more than 5 yards different from each other.

Leading the Vikings in punting for 10 years speaks more to the fact that he kept his job as their kicker for a decade.

I still don't find that to be all that impressive. Perhaps this wasn't a common feat back in the late '70s/early '80s.

His career attempts might not be that impressive because he played on much better teams that did not punt as often and was not playing in an era with sixteen game regular seasons.

The league switched to 16 games in 1978. Coleman's career spanned 1977-1988 (1978-1987 with the Vikings).

Add to that what a gifted athlete he was and the number of times he ran for 1st downs.

He ran the ball 13 times. Judging by his stats, he may have picked up the first down seven times or so: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... leGr20.htm

More than Kluwe? Yep. But I'm still unimpressed with that statistic.

I said I would argue the fact that he was the best Viking punter ever and I will stick with that.

That's cool. I just happen to disagree. The reality is it's probably very close, but I'd still give the nod to Kluwe.

[Purple bruise]

That's a valid point, but we really have no idea what Kluwe could've done. The best we can do is probably average all of his late-season cold-weather punts and compare them with the number of late-season outdoor cold-weather punts done by Coleman. I would be a bit shocked if the numbers were more than 5 yards different from each other.
I still don't find that to be all that impressive. Perhaps this wasn't a common feat back in the late '70s/early '80s.
The league switched to 16 games in 1978. Coleman's career spanned 1977-1988 (1978-1987 with the Vikings).
He ran the ball 13 times. Judging by his stats, he may have picked up the first down seven times or so: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... leGr20.htm

More than Kluwe? Yep. But I'm still unimpressed with that statistic.
That's cool. I just happen to disagree. The reality is it's probably very close, but I'd still give the nod to Kluwe.

That is one important aspect of what a message board is all about, you have your opinion and I have mine. I kind of like the fact that he was named the punter for the 40th anniversary team
http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 2f142c155b

[PurpleMustReign]

For what it is worth, I liked Mitch Berger way better than any other punter the Vikings ever had.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2

[Purple bruise]

For what it is worth, I liked Mitch Berger way better than any other punter the Vikings ever had.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2

I also liked Berger a whole lot. I followed his career through CU. I liked his stash of candy bars that he kept in his sock

[jeg067]

I don't know who the best punter is/was, but just because I found it interesting.

Yards/Punt when playing at home for Greg Coleman :

Year Y/P
1978 36.71
1979 37.90
1980 39.29
1981 40.96
1982 44.56 ==> Metrodome
1983 42.96
1984 46.56
1985 42.97
1986 43.93
1987 40.07

So, I guess it helps a little to punt inside.

http://pfref.com/tiny/6yWhi

[Mothman]

In Cook's case, I think most of the "tolerators" had to do with the fact that most didn't know all the facts and some wanted to let the incident play out in the courts to see how much of the information was accurate. These were primarily the same people who didn't assume AD was guilty either, just because he had been charged with a crime.

Just an observation: Cook's play was at a level that most hoped it was not as purported because it would have represented a loss to the team, had he been released. Kluwe's play was suspect at times last year. I don't fear the loss of him as a punter, I'm just concerned him not holding the ball anymore may screw up Walsh's game. If the new guy can do that as well as Kluwe, then I'm OK with it. If he can't then I'll be irritated.

Holding isn't exactly the most difficult job in football and Locke has experience doing it so if they ask him to do it, he'll probably be fine. They may have other players with experience handling it as well.

[Demi]

If it was about his stances fine, but I think it might have to do with being able to pay someone a fraction of the contract for what amounts to the same or very similar production...without any of the extra curriculars.

[NextQuestion]

Remember how Berger kept a snickers in his extra shoes?

[DanAS]

So In Kluwe's case, I dont think it had anything to do with him supporting gay people but he has been putting himself in the media too much lately. And certain organizations have rules that apply. The New England Patriots are very strict when it comes to the players and the media. They cut people too for causing a media circus, no matter what the situation is.

And thats what I think the Vikings are doing. He has the right of free speech and the right to support what he wants but if its drawing too much attention then it might be a problem for some companies.

I understand that teams don't want their players talking much about public policy issues because, no matter what the players say, they are bound to offend someone. That said, I do think players should be given the right to speak their minds without fear that they will lose their jobs because of it.

I have no problem with releasing Kluwe because I have been disappointed with his punting -- his net average and his coffin corner kicking do not warrant paying him "veteran" money. However, I love what he has to say, and it would sadden me to think that players who speak out about issues that matter have no place in American society. That doesn't sound like the "land of the free." Corporations need to relax their choke hold on our freedoms -- it's not just "Big Brother" who can go too far in that regard.

Anyway, let's give the Vikes the benefit of the doubt on this one because Kluwe just wasn't all that good. We paid him to punt, not to pontificate, and while I might like the job he was doing in the latter domain, I was unimpressed with what he did with the ball on his foot.

[psjordan]

Can't believe folks don't get the dynamic at work here. First off, I feel safe saying the VAST majority of NFL players are 95% evaluated on their PLAY ON THE FIELD. The vast, vast, vast majority.

In those cases where "personality" has to creep into the equation, and it does, there is an indirect relationship between what kind of distraction you are versus what kind of player you are.

IF - and that is a big IF IMO, Kluwe's personality crept into the decision of drafting a punter, well then his talent simply no longer outweighed his distraction factor.

Face it - if you want to be a distraction in the coaches eyes, you had better UNQUESTIONABLY be one of the top two punters in the league. Kluwe is not, was not, and has shown (IMO) little desire to get there.

I have absolutely zero problems with coaching staffs all over the NFL making decisions this way. They are trying to build a team dynamic along with team talent. If they choose to let Kluwe go because his "distraction factor" no longer outweighs his talent, well heck, isn't that what we just did with Harvin?

And yes, you do not have a say in what is a distraction for an NFL team and what is not. That is the sole realm of the FO and coaching staff. Sorry.