Minnesota Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe Tweeted the Playing surface at TCF Bank Stadium is “As Hard as Concrete” and “Unplayable”

WHEN DID THE NFL BECOME SO GUTLESS? NEWS FLASH TO VIKINGS … THE TEAM USED TO PLAY OUTSIDE.

Remember when the Houston Astrodome was the only one? What a difference time makes. There was a time and place in my youth when the Minnesota Vikings could not wait to play outside and use the cold, snow and other elements to their advantage. Now, these pampered prima-donna players are afraid of a little cold and a playing surface that does not resemble their plush living room carpet.

If you were to listen to all the whining and belly-aching coming from those who are going to have to play in tonight’s MNF game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, one would think that there was no such epic NFL game known as “The Ice Bowl”.  The game is supposed to be played outdoors at the University of Minnesota’s stadium as the Metro-dome is still unable to host a game as it could not withstand last weeks brutal snow storm.

Enter Vikings punter Chris Kluwe who tweeted that the playing surface at TCF Bank Stadium is “as hard as concrete” and “unplayable”. What! A punter is making a comment that the playing surface is unplayable? Are you serious, a punter has maybe 7 plays a game and will never touch the playing surface and he is mouthing off? Hey Chris Kluwe, STFU and grow a set. The surface is like concrete? Today’s so-called football players would be aghast if they ever had to play at the old VET and the astro-turf that was there and a aprt of many stadiums in the 70′s and 80′s that was nothing more than fuzzy, green cement.

The playing surface at TCF Bank Stadium is “as hard as concrete” and “unplayable,” Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe tweeted Sunday afternoon after a brief practice there.

Despite skepticism from both Vikings and Chicago Bears players last week, team and University of Minnesota officials have expressed confidence that the field would be in acceptable condition for Monday night’s game — even after a mad scramble to clear 20-inch snow drifts from the field this week.

But after Sunday’s practice, Kluwe issued a series of tweets that predicted the game would be a “trainwreck.”

Kluwe: “The field is as hard as concrete an hour and a half after they took the tarp off, and anyone that hits their head is getting a concussion. … I find it interesting that the NFL can claim an emphasis on player safety, and then tell us the field is fine. It’s beyond hypocritical. … I can only hope, however unlikely, that no one gets catastrophically injured at the trainwreck that’s about to take place tomorrow night.”

From 1975, remember when football was football … how I miss Brent, Phyllis George and Irv Cross

Just how soft has the NFL become and especially the Minnesota Vikings? Back when the Vikings acted like Vikings and were known as the “Purple People Eaters” they played outside at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN. Personally, the Vikings lost much of their personality when they became a dome team. Can anyone imagine the Bears, the Monsters of the Midway, ever playing inside?

Remember the Miracle at Metropolitan Stadium?

What is most ironic about all the whining regarding having to play outside at night in Minnesota is that at half time the Vikings will be honoring the 50 greatest Vikings. Folks like Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Allan Page, Jim Marshall, Amad Rashad, Ron Yary, Ed White, Stu Voigt, Dave Osborn, Paul Krause,  Fred Cox, Mick Tingelhoff, and coach  Bud Grant among many others will be honored. These individuals gave the Vikes their reputation as tough nosed, turf eating, hard nosed folks. How incredible is it that on the very night they are honoring Viking greats, many who played in years of yore when men were men and the NFL was not a flag football league.

The Ice Bowl, what legends are made of …

A note to today’s players … suck it up. If it were up to you people the “Ice Bowl”would never have been played between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers in 1967. If it were up to today’s player, the 1981 AFC Championship game between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals known as the “Freezer  Bowl” would never have been played. The  air temperature was ?9 °F, but the wind chill, factoring in a sustained wind of 27 miles per hour ?37 °F .

Today’s NFL players need to understand the history of football and the tough nosed players that once played the game. There was a time when a player would never wear a long sleeve shirt under their jersey. It would have been considered a lack of manhood to do so. My how times have changed and not for the better. Remember when players didn’t complain, they just played the game?

How I miss the old NFL!

UPDATE I:According to ESPN reports, Vikes QB Brett Favre has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bears. Honestly, I hope Brett has one last hoorah in him and can make this one last start in what should look like a throw back game from days of yesterday.