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Chris Kluwe suggests Vikings release was over same-sex marriage support Chris Kluwe suggests Vikings release was over same-sex marriage support
(35 minutes later)
A professional NFL player has said he is "pretty confident" he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last year because of his activism on behalf of same-sex marriage.A professional NFL player has said he is "pretty confident" he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last year because of his activism on behalf of same-sex marriage.
In a lengthy blog post published on the web site Deadspin on Thursday, the former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe described searing scenes of a coach spewing anti-gay bigotry, part of a series of what Kluwe said were repeated confrontations with his now-former team’s coaches and press officers over his views and his decision to air them. In a lengthy blogpost published on the web site Deadspin on Thursday, the former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe described searing scenes of a coach spewing anti-gay bigotry, part of a series of what Kluwe said were repeated confrontations with his now-former team’s coaches and press officers over his views and his decision to air them.
"I honestly don't know if my activism was the reason I got fired," Kluwe wrote. "However, I'm pretty confident it was.""I honestly don't know if my activism was the reason I got fired," Kluwe wrote. "However, I'm pretty confident it was."
Kluwe, 32, publicly opposed a proposed amendment to the Minnesota state constitution that would have defined marriage as solely between a man and a woman, which was rejected by the state’s voters in November 2012. Kluwe was cut from the Vikings in May 2013, after eight years with the team.Kluwe, 32, publicly opposed a proposed amendment to the Minnesota state constitution that would have defined marriage as solely between a man and a woman, which was rejected by the state’s voters in November 2012. Kluwe was cut from the Vikings in May 2013, after eight years with the team.
According to Kluwe's piece for Deadspin, after he made radio advertisements and public appearances opposing the amendment, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier (who was himself fired this week) told him he "needed to be quiet and stop speaking out on this stuff".According to Kluwe's piece for Deadspin, after he made radio advertisements and public appearances opposing the amendment, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier (who was himself fired this week) told him he "needed to be quiet and stop speaking out on this stuff".
But it is Kluwe's direct coach – Mike Priefer, the special teams coordinator – whom Kluwe accuses of hateful behavior, and of making the decision to cut him.But it is Kluwe's direct coach – Mike Priefer, the special teams coordinator – whom Kluwe accuses of hateful behavior, and of making the decision to cut him.
"As we sat down in our chairs," Kluwe wrote of one players' meeting, "Mike Priefer, in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said: 'We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.'""As we sat down in our chairs," Kluwe wrote of one players' meeting, "Mike Priefer, in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said: 'We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.'"
Kluwe's account is drawn, he writes, from extensive notes that he took at the time. Neither Priefer nor the National Football League (NFL) have yet commented on the accusations.Kluwe's account is drawn, he writes, from extensive notes that he took at the time. Neither Priefer nor the National Football League (NFL) have yet commented on the accusations.
Most analysts regard Kluwe as a solid if not spectacular performer. According to the widely-followed Pro Football Focus website, he ended 2012 as the 25th-best punter in the 32-team league. However, he was playing much better near the end of the season compared to the start, according to data compiled by analyst Nathan Janke. In both 2010 and 2011, by PFF's ratings, Kluwe was the 14th-best punter in the league. The Vikings released a statement on Thursday, saying the organization promotes tolerance "including on the subject of marriage equality".
"We do not tolerate discrimination at any level," the statement read, in part. "Any notion that Chris was released from our football team due to his stance on marriage equality is entirely inaccurate and inconsistent with team policy. Chris was released strictly based on his football performance."
Most analysts regard Kluwe as a solid if not spectacular performer. According to the widely-followed Pro Football Focus website, he ended 2012 as the 25th-best punter in the 32-team league. However, he was playing much better near the end of the season compared to the start, according to data compiled by analyst Nathan Jahnke. In both 2010 and 2011, by PFF's ratings, Kluwe was the 14th-best punter in the league.
In Thursday's blogpost, Kluwe repeatedly defended his on-field performance. During the 2012 season, he wrote, "both my net- and gross-punting marks were nearly in line with my career averages, which remain the best in Vikings history".In Thursday's blogpost, Kluwe repeatedly defended his on-field performance. During the 2012 season, he wrote, "both my net- and gross-punting marks were nearly in line with my career averages, which remain the best in Vikings history".
In April 2013, the linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo suggested that his support for same-sex marriage had led the Baltimore Ravens to release him, a suggestion he later retracted.In April 2013, the linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo suggested that his support for same-sex marriage had led the Baltimore Ravens to release him, a suggestion he later retracted.
“Some will ask if the NFL has a problem with institutionalized homophobia,” Kluwe wrote. “I don't think it does. I think there are homophobic people in the NFL, in all positions, but that's true for society as well, and those people eventually get replaced.“Some will ask if the NFL has a problem with institutionalized homophobia,” Kluwe wrote. “I don't think it does. I think there are homophobic people in the NFL, in all positions, but that's true for society as well, and those people eventually get replaced.
“All we can do is try to expose their behavior when we see it and call them to account for their actions.”“All we can do is try to expose their behavior when we see it and call them to account for their actions.”
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