Minnesota Vikings Let Punter Chris Kluwe Go

When the Minnesota Vikings brought in another punter--UCLA's Jeff Locke--the writing was on the wall. Chris Kluwe was going to be let go. You could try to theorize that the team just wanted to give some other guys work so they could have them on file just in case, but Kluwe was convinced that this had nothing to do with 'just in case.'

And on Monday it became a reality when the Vikings officially released their veteran punter.



Kluwe has stated he believes it is because of his out-spoken nature and political beliefs. An
proponent of gay marriage, he has made his views clear, sometimes painfully so.

“It’s a shame that in a league with players given multiple second chances after arrests, including felony arrests, that speaking out on human rights has a chance of getting you cut."

Then there was the game where he wore a patch o his shoulder to protest the absence of punters from the Hall of Fame.

While one coach has remarked on how Kluwe's antics were getting old the bottom line is that the Minnesota Vikings were not good at punting last season averaging 45 yards a kick, 20th in the NFL. In a league that is based on performance when you are not getting the job done and your perceived to be a pain in the rump you get cut.

It has nothing to do with politics. It's just business.