Vikings punter criticizes four plaintiffs representing players

SHARE Vikings punter criticizes four plaintiffs representing players

Amid reports that four of the 10 plaintiffs may be serving themselves, Vikings punter Chris Kluwe blasted them for “being that guy” on his Twitter account.

Kluwe doesn’t shy away from controversy, and he’s endeared himself to his 13,000 plus fans with his passion for music, video games and off-beat insights.

Kluwe wrote earlier today: “Sigh, and once again greed is the operative byword. Congrats Brees, Manning, Mankins, and Jackson for being ‘that guy’. #douchebags.”

The last part is a hashtag, a popular tool on Twitter to convey sarcasm, emphasize something or make an additional point.

Kluwe didn’t back down from his comment, addressing Yahoo! Sports NFL columnist Mike Silver by saying, “Would you prefer I went James Harrison on them?” In that tweet, though, Kluwe noted in a hashtag that hastags don’t count.

There are several reports that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins and San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson are making separate demands, even though they are among the names representing the 1,900 plus NFL PLayers.

Yahoo! Sports reporter earlier today that Jackson and Mankins wanted to either be free agents or to receive $10 million apiece while Manning and Brees wanted to be exempt from the franchise tag designation. ESPN, however, reported that Mankins has not made that demand.

None of those four players have commented, but they’re enduring a bashing. The popular website Pro Football Talk ripped any of the plaintiffs who are “trying to cut their own deals.”

“Regardless of what any of the named plaintiffs want or don’t want for themselves, the fact that they’re trying to get anything for themselves remains highly offensive,” the website’s founder Mike Florio wrote. “They signed up to represent the class of all players, not themselves.”

I’m sure I speak for many, when I say I hope that these four players aren’t holding this up in any way.

If they are, that would be absurdly selfish.

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