Since the specialization of their positions in the last 40-50 years, kickers and punters have been a little different. Unless they kick a game-winning field goal or stick a punt inside the 5-yard line they are rarely accepted on the team as fellow football players. They practice by themselves over on a side field. They should be rarely seen and preferably never heard. Until now. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is not only unlike any other football player. He's unlike any other kicker or punter. He's definitely unique. Fortunately for all of us, Chris Kluwe is a punter that speaks. In a chaotic time his seems to be the only reasonable voice out there. Kluwe approaches issues logically. Too often those that are logical in their thinking lack imagination. Kluwe's logical ways is nicely spiced with a vivid imagination. In a recent article in the New York Times, the writer referred to Kluwe as the most interesting player in the National Football League. That's not the best sampling site but Kluwe would be the most interesting in any circle. With an incredible grasp of the English language, he writes and speaks well on a wide range of topics. Somewhat surprisingly, one of those topics wouldn't be football. He knows little of his own sport. His father says that the NFL punter could only name 14 of the 16 teams in the Vikings' conference. Other things simply interest him more but if you ask him about the physics of punting a football he's got it covered. Recently, Kluwe has received a lot of attention for his views on same sex marriages. His words have been some of the most eloquent and logical that I've heard. After hearing his comments, many have stated that the NFL punter says exactly what they have always wanted to say but never quite had the words. I know exactly how they feel. When Kluwe speaks everything just seems to make sense. So much so that it's difficult to imagine anyone being against same sex marriage after reading or listening to his words. It's a basic human right that everyone should have.
When Chris Kluwe decides to hang up his punting shoes I don't think that he'll be short of things to fill up his time. He currently plays bass in the Minneapolis band Tripping Icarus. All topics, except maybe football, seem to interest him so he never has shortage of books to read. He consumes them. This is remarkable considering his great interest in role playing games. I know very little of this activity so I can't really speak of it. I do understand that to do it well you can't rush through it. With a wife and two little girls, Chris Kluwe is a very busy man. It's remarkable to me that he has enough time in the day to do all those things that interest him. He stresses the importance of balancing all that is in your life. Most have far less to balance.
As for his current day job, Chris Kluwe is one of the best punters in the NFL. I've thought as much since he joined the Vikings in 2005. The Seattle Seahawks had signed him as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA. When the Seahawks released him before the start of the season the Vikings immediately grabbed him. The Vikings had played their last preseason game that year against Seattle and I've always wondered if it was something of a job interview for Kluwe. Whatever happened, the Vikings never looked back. He's punted the ball well and consistently. While some teams have their punters inflate their averages by booming punts whenever possible, Kluwe has made his mark as a directional punter. He's quite skilled at pinning teams inside their own 20-yard line. His hang time and accuracy allows for the coverage team to negate the opponent's return game. Personally, I wouldn't trade Chris Kluwe for any other punter in the league. The Vikings haven't had a punter for any significant length of time since Greg Coleman in the '80s. It's always nice to not have to worry about a particular position, even punter, for a while. Kluwe has provided that stability since 2005. I believe that he's only signed through next year. My guess is that any re-signing is dependent on whether he wants to keep playing football. I sure hope that he does but I understand if he has more important things to do. If he chooses to walk away from the game, I am thankful for the contact that he maintains through Twitter. His tweets are frequently hilarious and always thoughtful. It's never boring with Chris Kluwe around.
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