In a series of Tweets today, Vikings punter Chris Kluwe harshly criticized the field conditions at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, which will host the Minnesota-Chicago NFL game Monday night.
“Serious time - All respect to the people that cleared the field and got it ready, you did an amazing job. That being said, it’s unplayable. 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.”
Following those Tweets, Kluwe posted the following entry on Twitter:
I’ve been asked not to tweet anymore about the field so as not to distract teammates (who were there) and I will honor that. Time for WoW.
While Kluwe didn’t post any photos, his Minnesota teammate Visanthe Shiancoe did.
Using the words “catastrophic” and “trainwreck” while describing the field conditions might be a little over-the-top, especially coming from a punter, but that characterization will be taken a lot more seriously if we do have any injuries Monday that could be attributed to the field.
Especially considering the available options for the teams that would’ve provided vastly better field and weather conditions.
At the very least, Kluwe and Shiancoe seem to be documenting the conditions in case there are any unfortunate incidents that could involve possible legal claims against the league.
5:14 pm on December 19th, 2010
And if you were playing on natural grass in Minny the field would be frozen as well. Man up Viqueens.
5:52 pm on December 19th, 2010
I saw “time for WoW” and thought what kind of workout program is that? then I saw his screen name
6:52 pm on December 19th, 2010
Troy Aikman tweeted about the Metrodome leaking and the Vikings needing a new stadium last Saturday night. Then some guy in charge of the Metrodome said it wasn’t true. The roof collapsed Sunday morning and made Aikman look like a genius.
6:55 pm on December 19th, 2010
no the field would not be frozen for an NFL team moron. Cold weather teams have heating coils in the ground to keep the field thawed
9:24 pm on December 19th, 2010
This field is not safe
9:56 pm on December 19th, 2010
I know todays athletes are spoiled and pampers, but Bud Grant, Tarkenton, Marshall, Page Kapp, etc must be laughing their asses off at these pathetic wimps…..
They arent doing anything their brethren didn’t do 40 yrs ago, poor babies!!! do you remember the Giants Packers playoff a few yrs back, 20 below wind chill….they played and survived…my Xmas gift to these wimps….DEPENDS, they need to grow some balls…
10:25 pm on December 19th, 2010
If the NFL can fine a player for a hit that causes a concussion, can a player sue the NFL for negligence if they get a concussion from the surface being hard as concrete?
6:32 am on December 20th, 2010
I know that that stadium was renovated recently from following a Target Field construction thread on a baseball forum, just looking at the surface it looks waaayyy better than the stuff the old school NFLers used to play on. WHat a bunch of babies, from a kicker no less lol, Vikings should never have moved into the Dome, i would be happy that they were finally playing a game outdoors.
7:32 am on December 20th, 2010
This isn’t 20 years ago- players faster and stronger- but you
morons who want a FROZEN FIELD still pee in your pants like it was 20 years ago you stupid brainstems.
8:32 am on December 20th, 2010
The only reason they are complaining is because all the new rules that the nfl keeps making up because of player safety. They are just trying to prove the point that King Roger doesn’t give a crap about player safety, he just wants more money.
8:58 am on December 20th, 2010
If my home has it’s roof ripped off in a storm, do the taxpayers fit the bill for a whole new house? NO
They need to put a new roof over and onto the existing stadium, maybe extend some thing’s at the same time and be done with it.
Take a page out of the book on Fenway Park, the added seat’s to the beloved green monster, added a couple of thing’s and BAM! Good to go.
This new stadium talk is crap! As much $$$$$ as the palyer’s make for playing a game, as much $$$$in revenue these owner’s make and have, yet “”"NEW STADIUM & TAXES GO UP ON THE LITTLE GUY FOR IT”"”!!!!
11:40 am on December 20th, 2010
Oooo the field is cold! Ooo they don’t have heaters under the turf. What a bunch of crying little babies. Man up boys it’s called football. Wanna wear a skirt go play soccer.
12:01 pm on December 20th, 2010
Are you kididng me?!
For what these guys are being paid these days they ought to suit up and play in the fricking parking lot if need be. What a bunch of pussies.
I guess the next thing they will be whining about it that “the guy on top of me in the pile has bad breath…..need a new league rule for that too”….
OY has is right…..the greats of the past are probably spewing their morning coffe in laughter at these bunch of pussies.
12:43 pm on December 20th, 2010
Did they have these so called heating coils at Lambeau for the Ice Bowl? Probably not. The old Soldier Field had turf back in the day and there were a lot of games played in the snow and cold. I don’t recall hearing those players complain, and they were not making nearly the amount of money that the current players do. Shut up and play!
1:03 pm on December 20th, 2010
All I can think about is the 1967 “Ice Bowl” game between Green Bay and Dallas,
The air temperature at the start of the game was -13F, with a wind chill (measured in modern terms) of -36F. Although the field had a buried heating system, the cold overwhelmed it and the field was slick and hard as an ice skating rink.
The refs’s whistles froze to their lips the first time they tried to use them, and thereafter they had to switch to voice commands. The band’s performance was cancelled after the instruments froze and several band members were hospitalized with hypothermia. Frank Gifford, who was announcing the game, announce that he was going to take a “bite of his coffee”.
It came down to the final play of the game, with the Packers at 3rd and 1 on the 1 yard line. Attempts at runs on the previous two plays had failed to make progress. On this final play, the Dallas defensive line tried desperately to dig a toehold in the ice which would allow them to hold the line without sliding backwards. But Star kept the ball and punged ahead for a touchdown, ending the game with the mercury now at -20F.
Coach Vince Lombardi confessed afterwards that he never seriously considered a field goal which would have tied the game and put it into overtime. He wanted the game to be over, win or lose, so they could get indoors before conditions got any worse.
According to Wikipedia, “…Popularly known as the Ice Bowl, it is widely considered one of the greatest games in NFL history, due to the hostile conditions in which it was played, the importance of the game, the rivalry between the teams, the duel between two future Hall of Fame head coaches, and the dramatic conclusion.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_NFL_Championship_Game
I’m wondering if today’s players even know their NFL history generally, or about this game in particular.
1:08 pm on December 20th, 2010
bunch of overpaid prima-donnas. Play football or go home. bunch of wimps. all that money just shows they are overpaid.
1:10 pm on December 20th, 2010
The weather, and field conditions, have always been part of the game.
I can’t help but remember the 1967 NFC Champions ship Game known as the “Ice Bowl” between Green Bay and Dallas. Temperature was -13F at the start of the game, wind chill (according to modern methods of measurement) at -37F.
Ref’s whistles froze to their lips, so did the band’s instruments. Officials went to voice calls, the band’s performace was cancelled and several went to the hospital with hypothermia.
By the final seconds of the game the mercury read -20F, with the Packers down by 3 points, on the Dallas 1 yard line on 3rd down with only seconds on the clock. Vince Lombardi decided not to try a field goal to tie the game and go into overtime because he wanted to get his team indoors before conditions got worse. Dallas defenders desperately tried to chip toe-holds in the ice to keep from sliding backwards. But Bart Star kept the ball on a quarterback sneak, the Packers line managed to push back the Dallas line, and the Packers won the game.
1:13 pm on December 20th, 2010
Not to worry. The players will take care of all concerns by playing at 65% capacity. Harder hit have been made in flag football games. If you think running out of bounds was becoming the norm, just watch tonight.
1:45 pm on December 20th, 2010
E.T. fix Domw