Kluwe rips Frazier, Spielman, Priefer

[dead_poet]

Vikings protect selves with coach contracts

INDIANAPOLIS -- The fallout from the Wells report will continue to make its way through the NFL for months, but there is one immediate effect from the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin scandal that appears to have made its way to the Minnesota Vikings.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that teams are writing contracts for their new coaches differently because of what happened in Miami.

"Teams such as Minnesota and Cleveland have begun to use language in their new coaching contracts that forces assistants to act in a more tolerant way than some in the Dolphins organization did," Schefter reported. "The new added language in coaches' contracts is designed to limit liability if a Miami-like situation were to occur anywhere else."

The Vikings' situation, of course, could have been affected by the ongoing independent investigation of former punter Chris Kluwe's allegations against special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, which were levied just as the Vikings began their coaching search. The new language in coaching contracts would help the Vikings move swiftly if allegations like Kluwe's were found to be true, or a situation like the Dolphins' imbroglio happened in Minnesota. It's worth noting that Priefer is still working under his old contract, and likely doesn't have the new language in his deal, but the news from Schefter is at least a reflection that the Vikings are trying to cover themselves for the future.

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

[dead_poet]

Jeez. This seems a little odd by the Vikings and I can't imagine how they think this is OK, no matter what the findings are.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/statu ... 68/photo/1

[Cliff]

Certainly doesn't look favorable for the team ...

[Mothman]

Jeez. This seems a little odd by the Vikings and I can't imagine how they think this is OK, no matter what the findings are.

I think that's a press release from Kluwe and his attorney so as always, consider the source and the potential for spin.

It doesn't look good but I think we have to wait and see how this plays out. I can't find any independent reports that confirm Kluwe's claim that the Vikings are reneging on their promise to release the report to the public. The closest I can find is this, in which an anonymous source says the Vikings are "reconsidering releasing the investigative report":

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3503429.shtml

A source close to the investigation tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the Vikings and the National Football League (NFL) have completed an investigation into former Viking Chris Kluwe's allegations against a coach.
The source, who is speaking on condition of anonymity, says the Vikings are now reconsidering releasing the investigative report because it is "damaging and embarrassing" to the organization.

As for it being okay... they'd be perfectly within their rights to withhold the report and if it's damaging, they may feel the hit they;'d take from holding onto it is far better than the hit they'd take from releasing it.

Zimmer is sure helping the Vikes get rid of that off the field weirdness Pelissero talked about, eh?

[Cliff]

As for it being okay... they'd be perfectly within their rights to withhold the report and if it's damaging, they may feel the hit they'd take from holding onto it is far better than the hit they'd take from releasing it.

It's within their rights, but it'll certainly be akin to an admission of guilt by the team in the court of public opinion. It's almost scary to think about what the report contains if it's worse than that.

[dead_poet]

they'd be perfectly within their rights to withhold the report

Really?

[dead_poet]

It's within their rights, but it'll certainly be akin to an admission of guilt by the team in the court of public opinion. It's almost scary to think about what the report contains if it's worse than that.

Indeed. Moreover, the timing of notifying Kluwe and his attorney by the Vikings was incredibly stupid with the national media in town for the All-Star game.

[Mothman]

Really?

Of course, unless they're compelled to release them by the legal system, they don't have to release them. As Cliff said, it would damn them in the court of public opinion but if the report is damning anyway, they may decide being being damned by assumption is better than being damned by the specific findings of the report.

I see the whole thing as a complicated scenario. The Vikings might be trying to preserve the career of a coach they respect here.

Anyway, until we get more information, I'm not inclined to draw any conclusions from a press release by the law firm representing Kluwe or from a report that an anonymous source claims the team is "considering' holding back the report. All of the above may be accurate but I think we have to wait and see what happens. The Vikings have made no official statement regarding the report or their intentions yet.

[dead_poet]

The Vikings have made no official statement regarding the report or their intentions yet.

Not surprising. IMO the not knowing and "hiding" the report (if that's, in fact, what they did/are doing) is potentially more damaging than releasing it. The assumption is that everything Kluwe said was true -- and then some.

My advice would be to come clean with a clear and appropriate statement of punishment for Prifer (which may or may not include his firing...though it may not. A fine, suspension and "counseling" similar to Igcognito are other options, however anything less than firing would probably not satisfy Kluwe).

Of course I may be jumping the gun here but the Vikings have had the report for several weeks. If what it contained exonerated Prifer, it would've seen the light of day immediately. Covering up is rarely the answer and has a long list of repercussions that are as damaging or more to the organization.

[Mothman]

Not surprising. IMO the not knowing and "hiding" the report (if that's, in fact, what they did/do) is potentially more damaging than releasing it. The assumption is that everything Kluwe said was true -- and then some.

My advice would be to come clean with a clear and appropriate statement of punishment for Prifer (which may or may not include his firing...though it may not. A fine, suspension and "counseling" similar to Igcognito are other options, however anything less than firing would probably not satisfy Kluwe).

Of course I may be jumping the gun here but the Vikings have had the report for several weeks. If what it contained exonerated Prifer, it would've seen the light of day immediately. Covering up is rarely the answer and has a long list of repercussions that are as damaging or more to the organization.

I think it all depends on what they found. If the public assumes something, but doesn't have the facts, it's much harder to push the organization to fire someone or otherwise take action they may not want to take. If the public is armed with the results of the investigation, it's a different story. If the Vikings feel they have already taken the steps necessary to correct any issues uncovered, they may want just want to move on without providing Kluwe with free ammo to pursue a lawsuit.

My guess is they really are reconsidering releasing the results of the investigation and that Kluwe and his attorney are trying to apply pressure (via this press conference) to get the Vikings to release the report.

[dead_poet]

FWIW:

@GoesslingESPN From what I've heard, I would be very skeptical about the idea that the Vikings won't release this report. But we'll see what Kluwe says.

‏@Andrew_Krammer Is it the #Vikings won't release the report? Or they just didn't by a deadline Kluwe's camp wanted? Major difference.

Yup RT @JZHoodie: Like I told @chipscoggins you have to believe the NFL is working with the Vikings on how to release this report.

[Mothman]

FWIW:

Thanks. Krammer touches on what I've been thinking. As Goessling wrote, we'll see what Kluwe says...

[dead_poet]

@GoesslingESPN: Would expect to hear from #Vikings soon. Word from Winter Park is they'll be responding shortly.

[NextQuestion]

lol at JZHoodie. Guy is the ultimate Priefer backer on Twitter

I've been telling you guys for months that Kluwe will look good in the end.

[HornedMessiah]

With how self-righteous Kluwe has acted, and referring to is as a "promise" to release the information, I'm guessing that the Vikings are in no way legally required to release this information and it's just Kluwe acting like a dick and trying to manipulate the situation through the media. A press conference, really?! Good timing too, what with a ton of media in town for the MLB All Star Game

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Does anyone give a #### about this anymore aside from Kluwe and his lawyer?