The Minnesota Vikings have suspended special teams coach Mike Priefer three games following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by former punter Chris Kluwe.
Priefer has also pledged $100,000 to LGBT rights charitable and educational organizations.
Attending anti-harassment, diversity and sexual-orientation sensitivity training can reduce his suspension to two games according to a statement released by the Vikings on Friday. Kluwe still intends to file his lawsuit claiming he will sue the team for over $10 million.
“I owe an apology to many people – the Wilf family, the Minnesota Vikings organization and fans, my family, the LGBT community, Chris Kluwe and anyone else that I offended with my insensitive remark,” Priefer said in a statement issued by the team, via USA Today.
“I regret what has occurred and what I said. I am extremely sorry but I will learn from this situation and will work on educating others to create more tolerance and respect.”
Kluwe alleged in his Jan. 3 post on Deadspin.com that Priefer said “We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.”
Long snapper Cullen Loeffler confirmed Priefer made that remark according to the report released by the Vikings.
According to the report released by the Vikings, Kluwe is said to have walked around with a hole in his underwear while claiming to be a victim of Jerry Sandusky in front of former strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy who attended Penn State.
Sure I gave my strength coach a hard time. Once. I made a joke about the Sandusky case, because he was a big Penn State guy.
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) July 19, 2014
Kluwe was pushing for a four game suspension and a $1 million donation from the Vikings to his causes.
The punter latched on with the Oakland Raiders following his release but was unable to win the punting job prior to the regular season and was left out of work for the 2013 season.
