Chris

Kluwe

The Raiders drew some laughs late Saturday when they announced they were keeping two punters, but on Sunday that changed with Kluwe’s release. Oakland will roll with big-legged Marquette King in Shane Lechler’s old position.

Kluwe’s controversial/outspoken nature, mediocre play and $1.45M contract got him ousted from Minnesota. He’ll fit right in the with the Raiders, who now have their Shane Lechler replacement at a veteran minimum salary. Kluwe’s torn left meniscus is expected to be healed well before camp, where he’ll face some competition from Marquette King.

Kluwe is due $1.4 million in 2013 after finishing 25th in Pro Football Focus’ punter ratings. Although he incurred the coaching staff’s wrath for distractions caused by bloviating his outspoken opinions on seemingly every political, cultural, and sports debate in America, Kluwe should be back with the Vikings for another season.

Kluwe broke the news on his Twitter account. Kluwe’s off-the-field activism will be blamed for his release, but he simply wasn’t worth his $1.4 million salary after coming in 17th in net-punting average (39.7 yards) last season. The Vikings are moving forward with No. 155 pick Jeff Locke at punter. Kluwe should eventually find another NFL gig.

Incumbent Vikings punter Chris Kluwe finished 25th in Pro Football Focus’ punter ratings last season and is due $1.4 million in 2013. He’ll be replaced by Locke, who was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection and projects to be dominant on kickoffs. Last season, 77 percent of his kickoffs went for touchbacks. There’s reason to believe Locke can be just as good as Brian Anger, who was a third-round pick of the Jags last season.

The Vikings drafted P Jeff Locke with the No. 155 overall pick, and teams don’t take kickers or punters unless they plan for them to make the team. Kluwe is due $1.45 million in the final year of his contract, but he won’t see that.

Among others. The Bears aren’t happy with P Adam Podlesh, who had a rough game Sunday and is near the bottom of the league in most punting categories.

The homophobic slur Priefer first denied, then later admitted, was roughly “nuke the gays.” It was made known by ex-punter and same-sex-marriage advocate Chris Kluwe, who was cut after that season and has not since resurfaced in the NFL. Kluwe is now suing the Vikings for essentially blackballing him. Vikings K Blair Walsh has told investigators Kluwe “loves the attention” and wanted to be “in the spotlight,” allegations that align with Kluwe’s Friday night decision to rant and rave on his Twitter page. During the same 2012 season, Kluwe is known to have on “multiple” occasions walked around with a hole in his shorts in front of teammates and coaches, “claiming to be a (Jerry) Sandusky victim.”

There is a one-year statute of limitations to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. Kluwe’s one year would have been up on May 6, but the sides agreed to an extension to allow the Vikings to complete their internal investigation. Kluwe believes he was released from the team because of his support for same-sex marriage and accused special teams coach Mike Priefer of making homophobic remarks. Kluwe said he will sue if the Vikings’ internal investigation does not find in his favor.

The deal includes $1.7 million in guarantees and makes Kluwe one of the NFL’s top ten highest paid punters. Kluwe currently ranks 14th in the NFL in gross punting, but leads the league in punts downed inside the opponent’s 20. He was to be a restricted FA after the season.