Over the past several years, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has been one of the most outspoken players in sports when it come to advocating for gay rights. Last year, he wrote an enthusiastic letter to a politician who was against gay marriage. He has also discussed gay players in the NFL on prominent shows such as “The Colbert Report.”
Now, Kluwe is wondering if the attention he has brought to the issue of gay players in the NFL could lead to his release.
“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,” he reportedly wrote in a text message to Pro Football Talk.
The Vikings used a fifth-round pick on former UCLA punter Jeff Locke over the weekend, so it seems like Kluwe’s days with the team are numbered. He even alluded to the fact that he could be cut when he tweeted this picture after Locke was taken by Minnesota.
It should be noted that Kluwe is outspoken about more than just human rights. Last season, he wore this patch on his shirt before a game to make a point about punters being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Shortly thereafter, Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer said some of the distractions Kluwe brings to the team are getting old. In many ways, the writing was already on the wall. Minnesota’s decision to draft a punter confirms what we and Kluwe already suspected.
