Kluwe no fan of replacements

Andrew Luck's Colts fell short in their preseason "showdown" with Robert Griffin III and the Redskins. RICHARD LIPSKI / AP

Posted: August 26, 2012

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is not shy.

Kluwe, a seven-year veteran, shares plenty of thoughts on Twitter (@ChrisWarcraft) and occasionally writes for the website Deadspin. Last week, he wrote an article titled, "Why Your Website [Isn't Good]." It did not skimp on the [bracketed] words.

His tweets following Friday's game against the Chargers may draw the attention of the commish, Roger Goodell:

"The NFL really needs to kiss and make up with the refs. These replacements are horrible. Frankly, it's kind of embarrassing."

"I'm sure they're trying hard, but they're just not good. So many blown calls tonight in both directions."

There will be a lot more cries from players like Kluwe, fans, coaches, and the media if the replacements are still around next month, but let's not get carried away. Sure, the replacements aren't as good, but it's not as if everyone held up the regular officials as pillars of excellence.

QB battles, real and fake

In a quarterback battle that didn't count, Robert Griffin III and the Redskins topped Andrew Luck's Colts, 30-17, on Saturday.

Griffin was 11 of 17 for 74 yards and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. Luck completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown, a 31-yard strike to T.Y. Hilton.

No word on how well those $35 "QB Showdown" commemorative T-shirts sold.

In a quarterback battle that does matter, Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson made another strong statement Friday: 13 of 19 for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-14 rout of the Chiefs. Free-agent signee Matt Flynn was on the bench with a sore elbow, but his 56.9 QB rating in the first two games is far below Wilson's 119.4 in three contests.

Also, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is still pondering his own QB battle between former Eagle Kevin Kolb and John Skelton.

Whims of Irsay

One day after stirring the pot by suggesting his team was closing in on a big trade, the tweeting mess that is Colts owner Jim Irsay kept up the chirping:

"No,trade winds still howlin'. . .but only time will tell if they were ghostly vapors or a flesh n blood upgrade!!!!!!!"

Maybe Irsay (@JimIrsay) is just jealous of what the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off, landing big names and dropping a slew of jaws to the floor. An Irsay looking longingly toward another city? Maybe fans in Indy should keep an eye out for the Mayflower trucks.