Former Vikings poop snooker punter says he lost job due to stance on gay marriage

[Anthony Bertellini]

Betcha he did. How's those liberal politics working out for ya
in Obama's job market, you dick sniffing queer lover?

JAJAJAJAJAJA!

In an article posted to Deadspin entitled �I Was An NFL Player
Until I Was Fired By Two Cowards And A Bigot,� former Minnesota
Vikings punter Chris Kluwe alleges that he lost his job as
Vikings punter because of his public support of gay marriage.

The article looks back at Kluwe�s 2012 season and alleged
interactions he had with former head coach Leslie Frazier,
general manager Rick Spielman, and special-teams coordinator
Mike Priefer. Kluwe writes that Frazier and Spielman (the
�cowards� from the article�s title) were made uncomfortable by
his public support of gay marriage. Kluwe also states that
Priefer, who Kluwe refers to as the �bigot,� was openly hostile
to Kluwe about his support of gay rights, and Kluwe says he
believes Priefer was the one directly responsible for him losing
his job.

Kluwe says he is writing the article now to �make sure that Mike
Priefer never holds a coaching position again in the NFL, and
ideally never coaches at any level.� Priefer is considered a
candidate for the vacant Minnesota Vikings head-coach position.

Kluwe also writes that he would like to continue punting in the
NFL, but says:

�However, it�s clear to me that no matter how much I want to
prove I can play, I will no longer punt in the NFL, especially
now that I�ve written this account. Whether it�s my age, my
minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most
likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player
is done.�

Kluwe says the relationship between Priefer and him began
deteriorating at the beginning of the 2012 season, after he
first made public his support of gay marriage.

>From the article:

�Throughout the months of September, October, and November,
Minnesota Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer would
use homophobic language in my presence�He would ask me if I had
written any letters defending �the gays� recently and denounce
as disgusting the idea that two men would kiss, and he would
constantly belittle or demean any idea of acceptance or
tolerance�Mike Priefer also said on multiple occasions that I
would wind up burning in hell with the gays, and that the only
truth was Jesus Christ and the Bible. He said all this in a semi-
joking tone, and I responded in kind��

Later, Kluwe describes an incident where he alleges Priefer used
violent language in a team meeting.

�As [my teammates and I] sat down in our chairs, 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.� The room grew intensely quiet, and
none of the players said a word for the rest of the meeting.�

Kluwe goes on to describe the deterioration of the relationship
between him and Priefer, and then his eventual dismissal from
the team.

The entire article is absolutely worth your time, and while it�s
not entirely surprising Kluwe wasn�t retained by the Vikings (a
league-average punter making a veteran�s salary is always going
to struggle finding a job), it is an interesting look behind the
scenes of an NFL franchise, and one man�s look at how he
believes his NFL career ended.

In an emailed statement to USA TODAY Sports, Vikings
spokesperson Jeff Anderson wrote: �The Minnesota Vikings were
made aware of Chris Kluwe�s allegations for the first time
today. We take them very seriously and will thoroughly review
this matter.

As an organization, the Vikings consistently strive to create a
supportive, respectful and accepting environment for all of our
players, coaches and front office personnel. We do not tolerate
discrimination at any level.

The team has long respected our players� and associates�
individual rights, and, as Chris specifically stated, Vikings
ownership supports and promotes tolerance, including on the
subject of marriage equality. Because he was identified with the
Vikings, Chris was asked to be respectful while expressing his
opinions. Team ownership and management also repeatedly
emphasized to Chris that the Vikings would not impinge on his
right to express his views.

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.

We will have further comment at the appropriate time.�

Prifer also issued a statement late Thursday afternoon to USA
TODAY Sports� Tom Pelissero:

�I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discrimination of any
type and am respectful of all individuals,� Priefer said in the
statement. �I personally have gay family members who I love and
support just as I do any family member.

�The primary reason I entered coaching was to affect people in a
positive way. As a coach, I have always created an accepting
environment for my players, including Chris, and have looked to
support them both on and off the field.�

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh also backed Prifer in a statement to
Pelissero: �I have had countless conversations and interactions
with coach Priefer, and I personally can attest to his integrity
and character,� Walsh wrote in a statement emailed to USA TODAY
Sports.

�His professionalism in the workplace is exemplary, and I firmly
believe that my teammates would whole-heartedly agree. The
allegations made today are reprehensible and totally not
compatible with what Mike Priefer stands for.�

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/chris-kluwe-minnesota-vikings-
mike-priefer/

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