Kluwe calls field ‘unplayable’

[TN TITAN Fan In STL]

Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is calling the field at TCF Bank Stadium “unplayable.” But officials with the team and the University of Minnesota insist it will be safe for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Crews at the university have been racing to get the on-campus open-air stadium ready for the Vikings’ rare outdoor home game. The Metrodome remains deflated due to a heavy snowstorm last weekend that tore holes in the roof that couldn’t be fixed in time.

University athletics spokesman Garry Bowman says they’re “absolutely ready to go.”

There was no media access to coaches or players during their walkthrough Sunday, but Kluwe and some other Vikings sounded off on their Twitter accounts. Kluwe tweets that the field is “hard as concrete.”

In quotes distributed by the team, Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier says conditions will be safe and players don’t need to worry.

[LordCC]

I am looking forward to this game, maybe because it could be a gong show. However, I feel sports, especially baseball & football should be played outdoors in the elements. I think it makes them unique to hockey & basketball and give such a better atmosphere too.

[JunkyardDog47]

Many Chicago players have the same complaint. There is no way to heat the Fieldturf in that stadium. I just hope that no player suffers a serious injury because of the frozen turf. This game does not belong there to begin with. If Minnesota can not get a decent stadium to play in, they do not deserve home games. Mall of America Field is obviously not a decent stadium for the Vikings to be playing in. It is very Mickey Mouse.

[GFootsXtreme]

I think it's fair to say three things here:

1) The players have become wussified.
2) The NFL is two-faced.
3) De-winterizing a stadium not intended for winter play instead of using one of 16 stadiums that is ready to go right now (that didn't host a game this weekend): priceless

[MR.FUGI]

Kluwe and the other complainers need to change out of their skirts and put on their big boy pants...just suck it up...you chose the wrong sport if you never wanted to play in adverse conditions...too cold...field is too damn hard...What do you think Lombardi would have said if these whiners were his players?

[TheLink]

Originally Posted by JunkyardDog47

Many Chicago players have the same complaint. There is no way to heat the Fieldturf in that stadium. I just hope that no player suffers a serious injury because of the frozen turf. This game does not belong there to begin with. If Minnesota can not get a decent stadium to play in, they do not deserve home games. Mall of America Field is obviously not a decent stadium for the Vikings to be playing in. It is very Mickey Mouse.

Metrodome very playable place to host games. Just unfortunate conditions that led to the roof caving in.

Originally Posted by GFootsXtreme

I think it's fair to say three things here:

3) De-winterizing a stadium not intended for winter play instead of using one of 16 stadiums that is ready to go right now (that didn't host a game this weekend): priceless

Vikings clearly wanted the game at home. Much easier to refund the money for 15K tickets vs all of them. Plus had a big event planned to honor the Vikings 50 greatest players.

[Jahred]

I grew up with Chris Kluwe, no joke this guy chose to get held back a year and spent our 7th grade year in Antartica for some science thing.

So if he said its cold, ITS COLD.

[Big Pimpin]

he's to quit crying like a bitch

[springjk]

any Kluwe prop bets for tonight? Sounds like very tough punting conditions.

[JRSPATS]

That's funny, A punter says the field is unplayable